Patient's question:
My colleague's baby was born with congenital megacolon. They went to the hospital for a check-up, and the doctor recommended removing the entire colon. Upon hearing that the colon would be removed, everyone was surprised. What would happen to the body in the future without a colon? Would bowel movements be normal like a healthy person?Doctor's answer:
A large colon resection due to megacolon may affect future bowel movements because the colon is responsible for absorbing water from the intestines. Currently, this function is lacking, so other parts of the intestine need to be used as substitutes. Bowel movements may be relatively looser in the future. However, nutrient absorption in the small intestine should not be affected. At the very least, digestive and absorptive functions are significantly impacted, so it is recommended to eat small, frequent meals and supplement with digestive enzymes to aid digestion. Abdominal clockwise massage may help. Malnutrition is easily affected. Malnutrition can further impact growth and development, as well as the need for trace elements.