What happens during strictureplasty?
To prevent any complications, your colorectal surgeons will observe your vital organs and get you ready for the procedure. You will be given a general anesthetic to make you not feel any pain and to make you unconscious. You can talk to an anesthesiologist to learn about the side effects and complications.
Your surgeon will cut your abdomen open. There are multiple surgical techniques that can be used to treat your structure. The technique your surgeon uses for you depends on the severity and length of the stricture.
According to experts, the most popular strictureplasty techniques are:
- Heineke-Mikulicz strictureplasty: This technique is used to correct short strictures. In most cases, the strictures are usually 10 cm long. It is the most popular technique.
- Finney strictureplasty: This technique is used to treat strictures that are about 10 to 20 cm long.
- Michelassi strictureplasty: This technique is also called side-to-side isoperistaltic strictureplasty. It is used to treat structures longer than 20 cm
In some cases, surgeons combine more than one technique to fix damaged tissues. A 2012 meta-analysis of 4,538 strictureplasties showed that unconventional and conventional techniques for strictureplasty could result in complications. Your surgeon will close the incision location when the strictureplasty is over.