A colostomy aims at diverting a part of the colon through a cut in the belly. The opening created on the abdomen is known as a stoma. With wastes passing out through this opening, you have to wear an ostomy bag over it to manage your stool evacuations.
A colostomy can be temporary or permanent.
When is a colostomy needed?
You may need a colostomy if you are unable to pass stools through your anus. It may be due to an illness or other issue with your digestive system. Reasons you may need a colostomy are Crohn’s disease, bowel cancer, diverticulitis, anal cancer, and bowel incontinence.
The surgeon will create a colostomy when a section of the colon has been removed, and the bowel cannot be joined back.
Colostomy procedure
The surgeon will perform a colostomy after administering general anesthesia to put you to sleep. This way, you will not feel any pain related to the procedure. The surgeon will either consider open or laparoscopic surgery to create a colostomy. Open surgery involves a long incision that makes the entire digestive system accessible. Laparoscopic surgery, on the other hand, involves several small incisions that allow the insertion of tools and monitoring systems to carry out the operation. Surgeons prefer this option more than anything as it is less invasive.
Colostomy can be an end or loop colostomy. A sloop colostomy is temporary, whereas an end colostomy is usually permanent.
Loop colostomy
The process of creating a loop colostomy involves the pulling out of a loop of the colon through a cut in the belly. The surgeon then makes an incision on the top of that loop and stitches its edges with the abdominal skin. It creates a stoma with two openings. One of these openings connects the functioning part of the bowel to the outside of the body. The other opening is connected to the inactive part of the bowel, including the rectum and anus. The surgeon may use a support device to hold the loop of the colon.
End colostomy
During end colostomy surgery, the surgeon brings an end of the colon out through a cut in the belly. The diseased part of the colon is rested or removed. The end of the colon brought out is stitched to the abdominal skin, creating a stoma. This colostomy is usually permanent. The surgeon may consider creating a temporary end colostomy during an emergency.
The stoma
The position of your stoma will depend on the section of the colon being diverted. Usually, it is on the left side of the belly.
In most cases, patients meet an ostomy care nurse before surgery to get the stoma site marked.
A stoma is usually red and moist. It may also bleed slightly, but that is normal. Since it has no nerve ending, a stoma doesn’t feel any pain.
Recovery
You will have to remain hospitalized for a few days after surgery. During this stay, an ostomy care nurse will visit you to manage your ostomy pouch. He or she will also tell you how to change your ostomy bag and care for your stoma.
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