Word parts
What it means
An operation to take out some or all of the large intestine, for cancer, ulcerative colitisUL-ser-uh-tiv koh-LY-tisA long-term inflammatory bowel disease that affects the inner lining of the colon and rectum.ulcer sorecol/o colon-itis inflammationFull entry , Crohn diseasekrohn dih-ZEEZA long-term inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the digestive tract, through the full thickness of its wall.Full entry , diverticulitis or a blocked or damaged bowel. The remaining ends may be joined back together, or the surgeon may make a colostomykuh-LOS-tuh-meeA surgical opening that brings part of the colon through the belly wall, so stool leaves the body into a pouch.col/o colon-stomy surgical openingFull entry or ileostomy so stool leaves through the belly wall.
For the nurse
After surgery, watch for the return of bowel sounds and gas, bleeding, signs of a leak at the joined bowel (fever, worsening belly pain) and fluid balance. Help the client walk early.
Remember it
-ectomy takes it out; -stomy makes an opening.
At a glance
| Spanish | colectomía |
|---|---|
| Also written | colectomies |
Easy to confuse with
colostomy
A surgical opening that brings part of the colon through the belly wall, so stool leaves the body into a pouch.