Colon Surgery General Information Colon surgery generally involves removal of part or all of the colon. The most common reasons for needing to remove part of the colon include cancer, polyps, and diverticulitis, although numerous other reasons exist. The surgery is done under general anesthesia and will require a stay in the hospital of at least several days following the operation. Depending on the reason for surgery and your overall medical condition, your surgeon may recommend either traditional “open” surgery (with one large incision) or laparoscopic surgery (with several small incisions). The pros and cons of each approach, as well as recommendations for your particular case should be discussed with your surgeon. Unless you need an emergency procedure, you will need to undergo bowel cleansing the day prior to surgery using a combination of laxatives and antibiotics. This will likely be similar to the bowel cleansing required before colonoscopy. Typically this is done at home. You will also be restricted to a liquid diet for the entire day prior to your surgery. Complete instructions for your bowel prep will be given to you at your office appointment. Recovery from colon surgery is usually several weeks (3-6), although you will typically only need to be in the hospital for the first 4-7 days after surgery. Your surgeon will discuss limitations and expectations after surgery with you prior to the surgery, and again prior to discharge from the hospital. The Procedure When you arrive, you will go to the preoperative preparation area where a nurse will review your medical history and an IV will be started. If you haven’t already done so, you will meet with an anesthesiologist at this time. When the operating room is ready for you, you will be taken in on a stretcher and will meet the operating room nurses who will help take care of you during the procedure. If you didn’t see your surgeon in the preoperative area, you will see him in the operating room prior to the beginning of the procedure. You will then move onto the operating room table and the anesthesiologist will give you medication to make you fall asleep. Your surgeon will then perform the procedure while you are completely asleep. When the surgery is completed, you will be taken to the recovery area where you will slowly wake up and regain complete consciousness. A nurse will give you any medication you need and monitor your vital signs and pain level as you wake up. Your surgeon will speak to your friends or family members in the waiting room during this time. Postoperative Information Once you have recovered from anesthesia and your pain is controlled, you will be taken from the recovery area to a hospital room. For more information on postoperative care, please click on this "Inpatient Surgery" link.