Surgery to remove all or a portion of your small bowel is known as a small bowel resection. It is carried out when a sick or clogged portion of your small intestine. The small intestine is another name for the small bowel. The small intestine is where your food undergoes the majority of digestion, or the breakdown and absorption of nutrients.

There can be a need for intestinal preparation before small bowel surgery. Eight hours before surgery, a liquid diet should be the only thing consumed after bowel preparation. You could be told to cease using some over-the-counter drugs. They include blood thinners, warfarin, aspirin and ibuprofen. During your assessment, you should let the surgeon know about ALL current drugs.