Colon surgery is typically performed to treat colon and rectal cancers, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or diverticulitis, and may also be necessary following an injury or wound, serious infection, or bowel blockage.
Colectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of your colon.
There are various types of colectomy operations:
- Total: involves removing the entire colon.
- Partial: 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.
Colon surgery – Laparoscopic
- Fewer days in the hospital after surgery (2.5 fewer days on average)
- Faster return to daily activities (1 month sooner on average)
- Small external scar (10 times smaller scar on average)
- Less pain and lower risk of opioid addiction
- Lower risk of infection
- Less internal scarring
Robotic-assisted surgery
- Shorter hospital stay
- Less blood loss during surgery
- Lower or similar rate of cancer cells remaining after surgery (called “positive surgical margin”)
- Similar rate of survival during surgery or within 30 days of surgery
