Information on a Partial Colectomy

A surgical procedure to remove your colon (also known as your large intestine) or a part of your large intestine is called a colectomy. There are several types of colectomy procedures including a partial colectomy, which removes just a portion of your large intestine.

Facts

• Partial colectomy is the surgical removal of the area of your colon which is affected by disease along with a small amount of the healthy tissue which surrounds it. Your surgeon then rejoins the ends of your colon together.

Types of Surgery

• There are two surgical options when you are facing a partial colectomy. An open colectomy involves a large abdominal incision, while a laparoscopic colectomy involves a number of small incisions through which a small camera and special surgical tools are used to perform the surgery.

Why It Is Done

• Reasons for a partial colectomy include a perforation (or tear) in your bowel, a bowel obstruction, early stage colon cancer, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

Risks

• As with any surgery, there are risks such as bleeding, infection, bowel obstruction as a result of surgical scar tissue, injury to the surrounding organs and the development of blood clots.

What to Expect After Surgery

• You will start on a liquid diet and progress slowly to solid foods as you can tolerate them. You will not be discharged until you have regained bowel function. Since your healthy colon tissue has been rejoined, you should be able to go to the bathroom as normal.

The Hospital Stay

• The average hospital stay ranges from four days to one week, depending on your progress and any potential complications. Full recovery will take approximately six to eight weeks.