Colectomy (Bowel Resection Surgery)

Procedure Details

What is a total colectomy?

Healthcare providers have specific names for colectomy surgeries based on the section of the colon removed during a procedure. During a total colectomy, a surgeon removes the entire colon.

What is a partial colectomy?

Partial colectomy describes any colectomy surgery that involves removing one part of the large intestine.

Types of partial colectomy surgery include:

• Hemicolectomy: A surgeon removes the left or right side of the colon.
• Proctocolectomy: A surgeon removes some or all of the colon plus the rectum.
• Sigmoidectomy: This procedure involves removing the bottom section of the colon. This portion, the sigmoid colon, joins with the rectum. Providers may also call this surgery a sigmoid colectomy.

What is a laparoscopic colectomy?

Surgeons can perform colectomy surgery using open (traditional) or laparoscopic (minimally invasive) techniques:

• Open surgery: A surgeon makes one or more long incisions to access, remove and repair the affected colon tissues.
• Laparoscopic colectomy: A surgeon makes several tiny incisions. They guide advanced, flexible tools (with a camera at the tip) through these incisions. The camera displays magnified images from inside your body onto a video monitor near the operating table. These techniques and tools allow the surgeon to remove and repair tissues precisely.

How is a colectomy performed?

The specifics of your colectomy surgery depend on the details and severity of your case. Your provider will give you specific instructions to prepare for surgery. You may need to drink a special liquid to empty your bowel before surgery and take antibiotic pills to help prevent infection.

For colectomy surgery, you lie on your back on an operating table. This “table” feels more like a hospital bed. Its design helps the operating team easily position you and makes surgery safer.

In general, you can expect your provider to:

1. Put you to sleep using general anesthesia, so you’re safe and unaware during the operation.
2. Make one or more incisions in your abdomen (belly area).
3. Carefully separate and remove the affected colon tissue.
4. Connect healthy bowel ends using staples or sutures.
5. Close abdominal incisions.

What’s the difference between a colectomy vs. a colostomy?

Not all colectomy surgeries require a colostomy. If your surgeon can reconnect both ends of healthy colon tissue, you may experience few or no changes to how your body digests food.

Sometimes, the colon can’t be put back together right away (or at all). In that case, your surgeon will create a colostomy.

During a colostomy procedure, a surgeon:

1. Makes an opening (called a stoma) in the abdominal wall.
2. Connects the healthy end of the colon to the stoma.
3. Connects a plastic bag (called a colostomy bag) to this opening.

This waterproof bag collects waste from the digestive tract. You will need to empty this bag throughout the day.

Are colostomy bags permanent?

Not always. Many people only need a colostomy for a short time while their colon tissue heals. During a second operation, your surgeon reconnects the colon and removes the colostomy bag. But in certain situations, a colostomy is permanent.

The thought of having a colostomy bag (and how it could change your life) can be unnerving. Before your surgery, ask your provider whether you may need a colostomy. Many hospitals have specially trained nurses who can teach you how to care for a colostomy bag, should you need one.

How long is colectomy surgery?

Colectomy surgery may take as little as one hour or longer than four hours. Much depends on what the surgery entails, including how much colon tissue your provider needs to remove.