Final answer:
A total colectomy is the surgical removal of the entire colon, often due to conditions like colorectal cancer or IBD.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the entire colon is removed, the procedure is called a total colectomy. This surgical operation involves removing the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and often the sigmoid colon. The reason for such a surgery could be to treat or prevent diseases and conditions that affect the colon, such as colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). After a total colectomy, the body's waste elimination process is altered. The rectum can either be connected to the remaining small intestine in a procedure called an ileorectal anastomosis, or an external bag is used to collect waste in an ileostomy.