| Colectomy | |
|---|---|
 Resected colon specimen from a human male with ulcerative colitis | |
| Specialty | General surgery, colorectal surgery |
| ICD-9-CM | 45.8, 45.73 |
| MeSH | D003082 |
Colectomy (col- + -ectomy) is the surgical removal of any extent of the colon, the longest portion of the large bowel. Colectomy may be performed for prophylactic, curative, or palliative reasons. Indications include cancer, infection, infarction, perforation, and impaired function of the colon. Colectomy may be performed open, laparoscopically, or robotically. Following removal of the bowel segment, the surgeon may restore continuity of the bowel or create a colostomy. Partial or subtotal colectomy refers to removing a portion of the colon, while total colectomy involves the removal of the entire colon. Complications of colectomy include anastomotic leak, bleeding, infection, and damage to surrounding structures.