Bowel resection for colorectal cancer

Anatomy of the colon and rectum

The colon and rectum and where they are in the body

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slide 1 of 5, Anatomy of the colon and rectum,

The colon and rectum are the last parts of the bowel (intestine). The bowel extends from the opening where food leaves the stomach to the opening where feces leave the body (anus). The bowel helps to process food, absorb nutrients and water, and get rid of waste.

Colon cancer site

Cancer in the wall of the descending colon

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slide 2 of 5, Colon cancer site,

Cancer is shown in a section of the descending colon.

Bowel section removed

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slide 3 of 5, Bowel section removed,

Resection is another name for any operation that removes tissue or part of an organ. Bowel resection, also called partial colectomy, for colorectal cancer removes the tumour and part of the colon or rectum around the tumour. Both ends of the bowel section being removed are stapled and cut. Nearby lymph nodes, lymph drainage channels, and blood vessels are also removed.

Bowel reattached

Ways the cut ends of the colon may be reattached

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slide 4 of 5, Bowel reattached,

The remaining ends of the bowel are reattached, either end-to-end, side-to-side, or side-to-end.

Surgery scars

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slide 5 of 5, Surgery scars,

If you have laparoscopic surgery, you will have 3 to 6 small scars. An example is in the picture on the left. Your surgeon may make 1 or 2 of the small openings a little bigger to allow space to complete the procedure. If so, those scars will be a little longer than the others. If you have an open resection, you will have one long scar. An example is in the picture on the right.

Current as of: March 22, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine
Brian D. O'Brien MD - Internal Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Kenneth Bark MD - General Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery