Most common type of colectomy for colonic inertia

[Kbird4]

I am a 52 year old lady who is considering having all or part of my colon removed for severe constipation which began when I started taking medications for chronic pain/fibromyalgia about 24 years ago.

I’ve seen 2 colon surgeons who both think surgery (laproscopic) is warranted.  One would remove my entire colon and join my small bowel to my rectum.  The other one would leave 6 – 8 inches of my sigmoid colon.  Do you know which of these is most often done for colonic inertia?  Is one more effective than the other?

In addition, the one taking my entire colon would join the small bowel to the rectum at a right angle.  The other one would attach the small bowel going straight down into the sigmoid colon. Do you know which of these techniques is best?  It seems like going straight down would be but I’m not sure.
Thanks much!

[Kbird4]

Very helpful - Thanks much!

[Morecambe]

About five years ago I underwent a total colectomy for torrential diverticular bleeding.  This was not done laparoscopically - but via the "surgeon's hands inside the abdomen" or however indelicately you want to describe it!!

In response to another Medhelp patient's question, I recorded my experience on:-

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/523166

You may find this useful - and perhaps you could print it off and ask your surgeon(s) whether he/she would regard my experiences as typical of what you might expect.

I can't answer your question about which operation (straight down - or right angle etc etc) is preferable but I do think you should ask the surgeon for his/her opinion and especially whether the "geometry" of the intestinal join (= anastomosis) will have any bearing on your recovery - including the risk of future soreness/obstruction etc etc

regards
Morecambe