COLOSTOMY : A colostomy is a surgical procedure that involves connecting a part of the colon onto the anterior abdominal wall, leaving the patient with an opening on the abdomen called a stoma.
In a colostomy, the stoma is formed from the end of the large intestine, which is drawn out through the incision and sutured to the skin. After a colostomy, faeces leave the patient's body through the abdomen.
A colostomy may be performed for many reasons. A colostomy may be needed to divert the contents of the intestine in case of an inflammatory disease of the bowel.
If the muscles that control bowel movements (sphincter muscles) are removed during surgery, you will be unable to control your bowels. In such a case, a colostomy becomes necessary so that the bowel contents can pass into a colostomy bag.
Sometimes, a colostomy may be necessary to relieve a bowel obstruction, or there may be inherited bowel problems, such as a bowel defect which is present at birth, or may be performed following an injury to the abdomen.
A colostomy is performed by making a small cut through the wall of the abdomen to one side of the main incision (where the section of bowel has been removed).The upper cut end of the bowel is brought out through this opening, known as a stoma, and the edges are stitched to the margins of the opening. The lower cut end may be closed internally or may also be brought out.
The bowel contents pass out through the colostomy and are collected in a waterproof bag which is worn over the stoma. The bag is made of a special waterproof material, known as hydrocolloid, which is adhesive and sticks to the area without the need for adhesive tape.
A colostomy may be permanent or temporary, depending on the reasons for its use.
colonoscopy.
