Etymed
proctocolectomy
Definition
Surgical removal of the rectum and colon
Clinical context
A 65-year-old patient with severe ulcerative colitis involving the entire colon and rectum fails medical therapy and develops toxic megacolon. The patient undergoes proctocolectomy due to life-threatening complications. Postoperatively, the patient requires temporary ileostomy management and long-term nutritional monitoring.
Mnemonic
Procto-colectomy = Procto (rectum) + colectomy (colon) = Remove both rectum and colon