Final answer:
A colostomy is the reversible procedure performed to give the colon a rest by diverting waste through the abdominal wall into a colostomy bag.
Step-by-step explanation:
The procedure done to give the colon a rest and that can later be reversed is known as a colostomy. A colostomy involves creating an opening in the abdominal wall to divert waste through a stoma into a colostomy bag, allowing the colon to heal or rest. Later on, if it's feasible, the colostomy can be reversed, and the normal path of digestion restored.
This is different from an ileostomy, which diverts the small intestine rather than the colon and can also be reversible. A sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure, not a treatment that gives the colon a rest. Colonic lavage is a method of cleaning the colon, and it does not involve creating a long-term diversion of bowel contents.