Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government
Español
Government Funding Lapse
Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted.

The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov.

Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov.

coloanal anastomosis

(KOH-loh-AY-nul uh-NAS-toh-MOH-sis)
A surgical procedure in which the colon is attached to the anus after the rectum has been removed. Also called coloanal pull-through.
Three-panel drawing showing rectal cancer surgery with anastomosis; the first panel shows area of rectum with cancer, the middle panel shows cancer and nearby tissue removed, and the last panel shows the colon and anus joined.Enlarge this image in new window
Resection of the rectum with anastomosis. The rectum and part of the colon are removed, and then the colon and anus are joined.
Search NCI's Dictionary of Cancer Terms