[dropcap]C[/dropcap]olectomy is a surgical procedure for sectioning the large intestine. It is also known as colon resection. The colon or the large intestine is a long tube-like organ in the body, located at the end of the digestive system. Colectomy is used to treat diseases or conditions that affect the colon. Some cases where the procedure is performed is performed are:
- Colon cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Large polyps
- Diverticular disease
- Inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
- Bowel infraction
- Trauma
- Typhlitis
How is it carried out?
Once the doctor has diagnosed the problem, colectomy is recommended either by conventional open or laparoscopic surgery.
Open Colectomy – Used traditionally, the doctor makes a long abdominal incision for this procedure. It requires a mandatory recovery period in the hospital; the duration may, however, vary for each case.
Laparoscopic Colectomy – While minimally invasive laparoscopic colectomy performs the same function as open colectomy, this method involves small incisions and specialized instruments to remove a part of the colon. This is less painful and recovery is also faster.
Types of Colectomy
Depending on the patient’s condition and the doctor’s diagnosis, a part or the entire colon may be removed through surgery.
- Total colectomy – This involves removal of the entire colon.
- Partial colectomy – Also called subtotal colectomy, here, only a part of the colon is removed.
- Hemicolectomy – When either the ascending or descending (right or left side, respectively) colon is removed.
- Proctocolectomy – when the colon and rectum are removed.
- Transverse colectomy, although possible, is rarely performed.
The patient may require other surgeries after the colectomy so as to reattach the remaining portion of the large intestines and the digestive system. In case of inflammatory bowel disease or rectal cancer, the patient may be recommended a colostomy or ileostomy as well.
Colectomy has been used for the benefit of patients with medical issues in the large intestines. It is used as an indicator of benign cancer when the non-cancerous growth starts to show symptoms like bleeding or causes a blockage in the colon. In the case of malignant tumors, colectomy is carried out to remove not only the tumor and affected portion but also the vascular and lymph structures that support that part of the colon. Depending on the stage, colectomy can also be a cure for cancer.
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Complications and risks
Like any surgery, bleeding and infection are common risks associated with colectomy. Sometimes the surgery may also cause injury to neighboring structures like the blood vessels, intestines, bladder or ureter. Hence, it is imperative to find an experienced surgeon who can guide the patient and handle colorectal diseases.
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After the colectomy surgery, the patient requires at least two to three weeks to recover and recuperate. A low-fibre diet is prescribed to avoid any unwanted strain to the intestine. Patients may notice slight changes in their bowel movements and frequency, but they are able to resume their daily activities and lead a normal life, even in cases of total colectomy.
