What is an ostomy?

In the following paragraphs, then, we'll learn more about colostomy, ileostomy, and urostomy. Colostomy - An Introduction A colostomy is the surgical process of causing a stoma between the large intestine and the skin of the abdomen.

This stoma changes the exit for waste from the colon. It allows waste to leave the body through the abdominal wall, instead of the anus. A colostomy is done to treat certain diseases of the large intestine. The most common cause of a colostomy (about 80 to 90% of cases) is sigmoid diverticulitis.

An ileostomy is a surgically created opening into the ileum. There may be a permanent stoma placement, a temporary stoma, or a rectal removal. A urostomy bag is implanted inside the urethra. You can also choose to have your bag to be adhesive hook or non-adherent.

Ostomy bags

The ostomy bag is attached to a drainable pouch, which is placed at the stoma site during the colostomy creation surgery. The stoma site is protected by living flaps of skin, or colostomy flaps. During the healing process, the flaps grow

Ileostomy

The ileostomy is like a colostomy, but it is created higher up in the abdomen. It opens into the ileum, the lower portion of the colon located just above the large intestine. Disorders requiring an ileostomy include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, a condition which occurs when ulcers form on the inner layer of the large intestine.  

If a malignant tumor of the ascending colon muscles is causing obstruction, this can be treated with an ileostomy, disconnecting the small intestine from the colon. In very rare cases a surgical operation, passing the small intestine straight through the abdominal wall, may be performed.  

A jejunostomy may be placed in the ileum (the end of the small intestine), in which case it is a stoma connected to the jejunum. A small portion of the jejunum is removed (this portion is replaced by a limited colostomy bag).