Dr. Deepti Kallam explains why colectomy is performed on patients

Understanding Why Colectomy is done

Irving, Texas – April 15, 2020 – Colectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove a section of the colon or the whole colon. A colon (large intestine) is a crucial part of the digestive system, which is a pathway for excretion of waste products from the body. Colectomy is recommended for treating colorectal cancer.

“A colectomy is recommended if your previous treatments have failed to improve your condition or if your colorectal cancer has progressed to an advanced stage,” explained Dr. Kallam. “Your doctor will perform a total colectomy, partial colectomy, proctocolectomy, or hemicolectomy depending on the severity of your condition.”

A colectomy is performed for the following reasons:

• To treat colon cancer – A colectomy is done in patients with both early-stage and late-stage disease. In early-stage cancers, only a small section of the colon is removed. When cancer has advanced, a larger portion of the colon will be surgically removed.

• To treat Crohn’s disease – When medications are not working for the patient, a colectomy can help to remove the affected part of the colon to provide relief from the signs and symptoms. It can also be recommended if precancerous tumors are found during a colonoscopy.

• As preventive surgery – If you are at high risk of colon cancer due to the presence of multiple precancerous polyps in the colon, you may want to undergo total colectomy to prevent cancer. Colectomy is ideal for people with inherited genetic conditions such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis, which are responsible for increased risk of colon cancer.

• To treat diverticulitis – A colectomy can help remove affected parts of your colon if your diverticulitis recurs or has complications.

“Before choosing any colectomy, you have to understand that the procedure will require other procedures in order to reattach the remaining parts of your digestive system,” continued Dr. Kallam.“Discuss your options with the doctor to understand your benefits and risks and decide on the best option for your case.”