Hartmann's Procedure

Hartmann's procedure is a surgical operation commonly used to treat serious conditions like colon cancer or perforations, where part of the colon is removed. The surgeon creates an internal connection (stoma) by bringing the end of the remaining colon to the surface of the abdomen to divert stool into a bag. The rectal stump is closed off and left inside the abdomen. This approach helps prevent infection or further complications. The procedure can sometimes be reversed later, reconnecting the colon, but in other cases, the stoma remains permanently.