Resektio

Resektio, or surgical resection, is a medical procedure that involves removing part or all of an organ, tissue, or tumour. The goal is to eliminate diseased tissue and, when possible, preserve or restore function. Resections can be curative, palliative, or diagnostic, and are often described by the completeness of the margins: R0 indicates no cancer at the margin, R1 microscopic residual, and R2 macroscopic residual.

Indications for resections vary and include malignant tumours, benign tumours causing symptoms or complications, inflammatory or stricturing diseases, traumatic injury, and organ failure where removal of diseased tissue improves health. The choice of extent depends on disease location, spread, and the aim of treatment.

Techniques and approaches are tailored to the organ and condition. Resection can be local (removing the lesion with a small margin), partial or segmental (removing a portion of an organ), or more extensive (lobectomy, hemi-hepatectomy, total organ removal). The procedure can be performed via open surgery, laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, or robot-assisted methods. After resection, the remaining sections of the organ are often joined in an anastomosis; in some cases a stoma or prosthetic replacement is used.

Preoperative evaluation, imaging, and sometimes intraoperative pathology help guide planning and ensure clear margins. Postoperative care focuses on monitoring for complications such as bleeding, infection, leakage at reconnection sites, and preservation of organ function. Outcomes depend on disease stage, location, and the patient’s overall health, but resections remain a central treatment option for many conditions.

Common examples include resections of the colon or rectum (colorectal resection), liver (hepatectomy), lung (lobectomy), and stomach (gastrectomy). Endoscopic or minimally invasive resections are frequently used when feasible.