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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Colectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of your colon. Your colon, also called your large intestine, is a long tube-like organ at the end of your digestive system. Colectomy may be necessary to treat or prevent diseases and conditions that affect your colon.
There are various types of colectomy operations:
- Total colectomy involves removing the entire colon.
- Partial colectomy involves removing part of the colon and may also be called subtotal colectomy.
- Hemicolectomy involves removing the right or left portion of the colon.
- Proctocolectomy involves removing both the colon and rectum.
Colectomy surgery usually requires other procedures to reattach the remaining portions of your digestive system and permit waste to leave your body.
References
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Patient information for laparoscopic colon resection from SAGES. Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. http://www.sages.org/publication/id/PI09/. Accessed Sept. 27, 2012.
- Townsend CM Jr., et al. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery: The Biological Basis of Modern Surgical Practice. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1565/0.html. Accessed Sept. 27, 2012.
- Surgery for colorectal cancer. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/ColonandRectumCancer/DetailedGuide/colorectal-cancer-treating-surgery. Accessed Oct. 1, 2012.
- Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6189-2..X0001-7--TOP&isbn=978-1-4160-6189-2&about=true&uniqId=229935664-2192. Accessed Oct. 1, 2012.
- Picco MF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. Oct. 2, 2012.
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