A colectomy is an operation to remove part or all of your colon. It’s also called colon resection surgery. You may need a colectomy if part or all of your colon has stopped working, or if it has an incurable condition that endangers other parts. Common reasons include colon cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases.

A colectomy is a surgical operation to remove part or all of your colon. It’s also called colon resection surgery. Your colon is part of your large bowel, which makes colectomy a type of large bowel resection.

What is the colon?

Your colon is part of your large intestine, where waste from the food you’ve been digesting is gradually solidified into poop. After your colon, your large intestine continues into your rectum and anus, where food waste exits your body.

Why is colectomy done?

You may need to have part or all of your colon removed for many different reasons. This can include cancers or diseases that can't be treated with medications. Removing the affected portion helps to ensure that the rest of your gastrointestinal tract can continue to function.

What conditions does colectomy treat?

Many problems can occur that may require part of your colon to be removed.

• Colon cancer: When cancer is found in your colon, it’s important to remove the portion of your colon with cancer to figure out the stage of cancer and help keep it from spreading.
• Precancerous conditions: If a colonoscopy reveals changes in your colon that have a high risk of progressing to cancer, your healthcare provider may recommend removing that portion of the colon preventatively. Elective colectomy may be chosen if you have a condition like familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome.
• Large bowel obstruction: Surgery may be required to remove a severe blockage in your colon, caused by a twist (volvulus) or narrowing (stricture).
• Inflammatory bowel disease: Conditions like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease may necessitate a colectomy to relieve symptoms.
• Diverticulitis: Colectomy may be necessary if diverticulitis is recurrent, unresponsive to medical treatment, or causes damage to nearby organs.
• Uncontrolled bleeding: In cases of severe internal bleeding in the colon, a colectomy may be the safer option.

Is colectomy a major surgery?

Most people consider colectomy a major surgery due to its lengthy operating and recovery time. It significantly impacts how food travels through your gastrointestinal tract, and may affect bathroom habits in the future.

However, with favorable conditions, colectomy can be performed using minimally invasive methods like laparoscopic or robotic surgery, leading to shorter operation and recovery times, smaller incisions, faster healing, and less pain overall.