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General surgery · UK

Small bowel resection - removing a diseased segment of small intestine.

Consultant-led open, laparoscopic or robotic resection of a segment of small bowel for Crohn’s disease, tumour, ischaemia, obstruction or trauma ’ with joined-up anaesthetics, nutrition and recovery.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private small bowel resection costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner units.

In short

£14,500–£22,000, home in 3–5 nights.

Option Indicative range
Surgical consultation with imaging review £250–£450
Pre-operative work-up (bloods, ECG, anaesthetic) £600–£1,100
Laparoscopic small bowel resection (self-pay, all-inclusive) £14,500–£22,000
Robotic small bowel resection £17,500–£26,000
Open small bowel resection £13,500–£20,000
Emergency resection with stoma formation £18,500–£30,000
Post-operative follow-up package (6 months) £700–£1,400

Prices vary by site, by complexity, and by whether add-on care is needed.

The problem

The right approach, the right team, and honest recovery expectations.

Small bowel surgery is where the details matter ’ imaging skimmed, nutrition ignored, and technique picked to fit the surgeon rather than the disease.

  • Confirm the disease

    CT or MR enterography, endoscopy and biopsy where relevant ’ we see the imaging before consenting to an operation.

  • Pick the right approach

    Laparoscopic where safe, robotic where it helps, open where honesty demands it ’ not one-size-fits-all.

  • Optimise before, follow up after

    Nutrition, anaemia and Crohn’s activity treated before theatre. Gastroenterology and oncology follow-up planned before, not after.

When it helps

When small bowel resection is the right step.

The presentations we see most, and the red flag that means A&E, not a private consultation.

  • Crohn’s stricture

    A short, symptomatic Crohn’s stricture that no longer responds to medication ’ resection or stricturoplasty offers durable relief.

  • Small bowel tumour

    Neuroendocrine tumour, adenocarcinoma, GIST or lymphoma confirmed on imaging or biopsy.

  • Enterocutaneous fistula

    Complex Crohn’s or post-surgical fistulae that require resection and reconstruction.

  • Ischaemic bowel

    Segmental ischaemia after mesenteric embolism or a strangulated hernia.

  • Recurrent obstruction

    Adhesional or Crohn’s-related obstruction that keeps admitting you to hospital.

  • Meckel’s diverticulum

    A symptomatic Meckel’s diverticulum ’ bleeding, obstruction or inflammation.

  • Trauma

    Blunt or penetrating small bowel injury identified at laparoscopy or laparotomy.

  • Red flag: acute abdomen

    A rigid, tender abdomen with fever and rising lactate is an emergency ’ not a private clinic appointment.

Procedure options

The approach depends on your case.

From a straightforward keyhole ileal resection to an open damage-control laparotomy ’ what each option involves.

  • Laparoscopic resection

    Keyhole approach through four or five small incisions. Faster recovery, less pain, smaller scars for most cases.

  • Robotic resection

    Robotically assisted laparoscopic surgery ’ better articulation in tight pelvic and mesenteric spaces, similar outcomes.

  • Open resection

    A single midline incision. Preferred for very large tumours, dense adhesions or emergency presentations.

  • Hand-assisted laparoscopic

    A hybrid where a hand port helps with a difficult mesentery ’ smaller wound than open, easier than pure laparoscopy.

  • Stricturoplasty

    A bowel-preserving option for short Crohn’s strictures ’ widens rather than removes the bowel.

  • Ileocaecal resection

    Where disease reaches the terminal ileum ’ the ileum and caecum are removed together with a joined anastomosis.

  • Resection with stoma

    Where an anastomosis is unsafe (sepsis, ischaemia), a temporary ileostomy is formed with later reversal.

  • Damage-control laparotomy

    For unstable patients ’ resection now, anastomosis or stoma at a later, safer operation.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Bowel resection is safe in experienced hands. The details that matter are anastomotic technique, nutrition and honest recognition of complications.

  • General anaesthetic

    All small bowel resections are under general anaesthetic. A consultant anaesthetist reviews every patient first.

  • Anastomotic leak

    Under 3 percent in elective cases. Early recognition and interventional radiology drainage manage most leaks without a second operation.

  • Bleeding

    Intra-operative bleeding is uncommon. Post-op bleeding is treated with observation, transfusion or, rarely, re-operation.

  • Infection

    Wound and intra-abdominal infection ’ 3–6 percent. Reduced by careful technique, warmed patient and single-dose antibiotics.

  • Ileus

    A quiet bowel for a few days is normal. Prolonged ileus is managed with gentle drip feeding and patience.

  • Short bowel and diarrhoea

    Rare after a short resection. Ileocaecal or extensive resection can leave you with looser stools ’ dietitian input helps.

  • Adhesions

    Any abdominal operation leaves adhesions. A minority cause future obstruction. Laparoscopy reduces the risk.

  • Recurrence in Crohn’s

    Endoscopic recurrence is common at 12 months. Post-op medication and colonoscopy at six months keep disease in check.

  • Red flags after surgery

    Fever, severe pain, low urine output, breathlessness or a swollen abdomen needs the same-day team, not a routine call.

Reading your notes

Your notes in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whether it is an elective ileal resection for Crohn’s or an emergency operation for ischaemia, the operation note and pathology report keep to the same shape.

A UK consultant reviewing a patient’s notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise ’ we translate it for you.

If you want us to walk you through the operation note, histology and margins before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Operation and stay

    Date, consultant, approach (open, laparoscopic, robotic), length of resection and details of the anastomosis.

  2. 02 Findings

    Intra-operative findings

    What was seen ’ inflammation, tumour, adhesions, mesentery ’ and any additional procedures performed.

  3. 03 Histology

    Diagnosis and margins

    Pathology of the resected segment ’ Crohn’s activity, tumour type, grade, margins and lymph nodes.

  4. 04 Impression

    Follow-up and MDT

    Read this first: further treatment, MDT plan for cancer or Crohn’s, and the schedule of follow-up.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Medically indicated bowel surgery is covered by most policies.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about small bowel resection.

Quick answers on cost, technique, recovery and Crohn’s follow-up.

  • How much does a private small bowel resection cost in the UK?

    Laparoscopic resection typically runs £14,500–£22,000 self-pay in 2026, robotic £17,500–£26,000, and open £13,500–£20,000. All-inclusive packages cover consultation, surgery, hospital stay and short-term follow-up.

  • Laparoscopic, robotic or open ’ how do I choose?

    The right approach depends on pathology, previous surgery and body habitus. Laparoscopy suits most cases, robotic helps with tight spaces, open is used for very large tumours or dense adhesions. Your consultant will explain the trade-offs.

  • How long is recovery?

    Three to five nights in hospital for laparoscopic or robotic surgery, five to seven for open. Most people are back to office work in 3–4 weeks and heavy lifting after six weeks.

  • Will I need a stoma?

    Usually no. A temporary ileostomy is only used where an anastomosis would be unsafe ’ severe sepsis, ischaemia or an unstable patient. It is reversed at a second operation two to three months later.

  • What about Crohn’s medication after surgery?

    Post-operative medication and a colonoscopy at six months are standard. Your gastroenterologist decides between prophylactic or symptom-triggered therapy based on your risk profile.

  • Does the NHS treat this, and why go private?

    Yes ’ elective and emergency small bowel resection is an NHS mainstay. Private routes are used for speed, choice of consultant, single-consultant continuity, and the option of robotic or hand-assisted surgery.

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