Total Proctocolectomy

A total proctocolectomy is surgical removal of the colon, rectum, and anus. After a proctocolectomy, your body still needs a way to eliminate waste. Your surgeon provides this by performing an ileostomy. This involves pulling part of your small intestine through an opening in your lower abdomen. The small intestine eliminates waste into a disposable bag worn over the surgical wound opening, or stoma. A proctocolectomy is a last resort for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Surgeons usually try approaches that will save the rectum and anus before resorting to a total proctocolectomy. This procedure may also be required to treat certain birth defects or to eliminate certain types of colon or rectal cancer.