an operation to remove all or part of the colon. when only part of the colon is removed, it is called a partial colectomy. in an open colectomy, one long incision is made in the wall of the abdomen and doctors can see the colon directly. in a laparoscopic-assisted colectomy, several small incisions are made and a thin, lighted tube attached to a video camera is inserted through one opening to guide the surgery. surgical instruments are inserted through the other openings to perform the surgery.