Rot at the base of the plant is very upsetting! It is most often caused by a lack of oxygen below the surface from overwatering or too dense a potting mix. Always try to have a free draining potting mix with plenty of air space for the root system to access oxygen.
If the entire root system has become rotten and slimy than it is too late to save the root system. In that case, simply trim off the plant above the rot in healthy green area, allow to callous over and then plant as a new cutting. Support with a trellis or stake if the cladodes need support.
Base rot can also be caused by a bacterial or fungal infection in the soil. If your soil is nicely aerated and not constantly wet, this may be the cause.
In that case, you may prefer to trim off the healthy plant above the rot and dispose of the rotten root system, as the spores can transfer to other plants in your collection.
All is not lost though...
In the photo above, the roots are not rotten and some healthy, firm roots exist, so we can potentially save this plant by following these steps:
Use a sterile cutting blade to scrape away the dead tissue from the main cladode. This includes cutting off the side cladodes as well so that only healthy green tissue remains.
Scrape off any rot from the central stem (through which nutirients pass to the remainder of the plant). (Remember to sterilise your blade with alcohol afterwards)
Sprinkle cinnamon powder all over the exposed stem and where the plant material has been cut.
Wait for 4-5 days for the stem to dry and plant to callous, then re-pot using slightly damp very aerated loose potting mix. Try not to pat the soil down or compact it as the root system may be damaged by doing so. Be gentle.
Do not water until the potting mix becomes dry.
These are just my own views .. please adapt or disregard as you see fit. :-)
Best wishes and happy growing!
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