What Is a Colostomy? | American Cancer Society

A colostomy is an opening in the belly (abdominal wall) that's made during surgery. It's usually needed because a problem is causing the ... TheAmericanCancerSocietyishereto supportUkrainianpatients withcancer,caregivers,andclinicians. CloseCriticalAlertBanner Search prod Verenespañol | Downloadthistopic[PDF] ColostomyGuide WhatIsaColostomy? TypesofColostomiesandPouchingSystems CaringforaColostomy Treatment&Support TreatmentsandSideEffects TreatmentTypes CancerSurgery Ostomies ColostomyGuide WhatIsaColostomy? Acolostomyisanopeninginthebelly(abdominalwall)that’smadeduringsurgery.It'susuallyneededbecauseaproblemiscausingthecolontonotworkproperly,oradiseaseisaffectingapartofthecolonanditneedstoberemoved.Theendofthecolon(largeintestine)isbroughtthroughthisopeningintheskintoformastoma.Acolostomymightonlybeneededforashorttime(temporary),maybefor3to6months.Atemporarycolostomymaybeusedwhenapartofthecolonneedstimetorestandhealfromaproblemordisease.Butsometimesadisease,suchascancer,ismoreseriousandacolostomymaybeneededfortherestofaperson'slife(permanent). Wherethecolostomystomawillbeontheabdomendependsonwhichpartofthecolonisaffected.Somecolostomiesarelarge,somesmall;someareontheleftsideoftheabdomen,someareontheright,othersmaybeinthemiddle.AWoundOstomyContinencenurse(WOCNorWOCnurse)orthesurgeonwillfigureoutthebestlocationforyourstoma.(AWOCnurseisaspecially-trainedregisterednursewhotakescareofandteachesostomypatients.Thisnursemayalsobecalledanostomynurse.) Whenyoulookatastoma,youareactuallylookingatthelining(themucosa)oftheintestine,whichlooksalotliketheinsideliningofyourcheek.Thestomawilllookpinktored.It’swarmandmoistandsecretessmallamountsofmucus. Thewaythestomalooksdependsonthetypeofcolostomythesurgeonmakesandonindividualbodydifferences.Itmaylookquitelargeatfirst,butwillshrinktoitsfinalsizeabout6to8weeksaftersurgery.Theshapewillberoundtooval.Somestomasmaystickoutalittle,whileothersareflatagainsttheskin. Unliketheanus,thestomahasnovalveorshut-offmuscle.Thismeansyouwon’tbeabletocontrolstoolpassingfromthestoma,butsometimesbowelmovementscanbemanagedinotherways.Therearenonerveendingsinthestoma,sothestomaitselfisnotasourceofpainordiscomfort. Whatdoesacolostomydo? Acolostomychangesthewayyourbodyworkstoallowstooltopass.Afteracolostomyhasbeencreated,theintestineswillworkjustliketheydidbeforeexcept: Thecolonandrectumbeyondthecolostomyaredisconnectedorremoved. Theanusisnolongertheexitforstool,butitwillstillpassmucusfromtimetotime.Thisisnormal. Sincenutrientsareabsorbedinthesmallintestine,acolostomydoesnotchangehowthebodyusesfood.Themainfunctionsofthecolonaretoabsorbwater,movethestooltowardtheanus,andthenstorestoolintherectumuntilit’spassedoutofthebody.Whenacolostomychangesthestool’sroute,thestorageareaisnolongeravailable. Thehigherupinthecolonthecolostomyismade,theshorterthecolonis.Ashortercolonmeansithaslesstimetoabsorbwater,makingthestoolsofterormoreliquid.Acolostomyfurtherdowninthecolon,neartherectum,willputoutstoolthathasbeenintheintestinealongertime.Dependingontheeffectsofillness,medicines,orotherformsoftreatment,thelongercoloncanputoutamoresolidorformedstool.Somepeoplewithcolostomiesfindthattheyareabletopassthisstoolatcertaintimesofthedaywithorwithoutthehelpofirrigation.(SeeCaringforaColostomy.) Aftersurgery,somepeoplestillmayfeelurgesandevenhavesomedischargefromtheanus.Thisdischargeismucus,blood,andattimesstool,leftfromtheoperation.Iftherectumremainsaftersurgery,itwillkeepputtingoutmucusthatcanbepassedharmlesslywheneveryouhavetheurge. Writtenby References TheAmericanCancerSocietymedicalandeditorialcontentteam Ourteamismadeupofdoctorsand oncologycertifiednurseswithdeepknowledgeofcancercareaswellasjournalists,editors,andtranslatorswithextensiveexperienceinmedicalwriting. InitsoriginalformthisdocumentwaswrittenbytheUnitedOstomyAssociationofAmerica(1962-2019).IthassincebeenmodifiedandupdatedbytheAmericanCancerSocietyusingthefollowingsources. Berti-HearnL,ElliottB.Colostomycare:Aguideforhomecareclinicians. HomeHealthcareNow. 2019;37(2):68-78.Accessedat https://journals.lww.com/homehealthcarenurseonline/FullText/2019/03000/Colostomy_Care__A_Guide_for_Home_Care_Clinicians.2.aspxonOctober2,2019. Hollister.Typesofostomies.Accessedathttps://www.hollister.com/en/ostomycare/ostomycareprofessionalresources/resourcesforyourpatients/ostomyresourcesonOctober2,2019. Hollister.Understandingyourcolostomy.Accessedathttp://www.hollister.com/~/media/files/pdfs-for-download/ostomy-care/understanding-your-colostomy_923054-0917.pdfonOctober2,2019. UnitedOstomyAssociationofAmerica(UOAA).Colostomyguide.Accessedathttps://www.ostomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ColostomyGuide.pdfonOctober2,2019. UnitedOstomyAssociationofAmerica(UOAA).Newostomypatientguide:Colostomy,ileostomy,urostomy,continentdiversion.Accessedathttps://www.ostomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/All-In-One-New-Patient-Guide_2018.pdfonOctober2,2019. References InitsoriginalformthisdocumentwaswrittenbytheUnitedOstomyAssociationofAmerica(1962-2019).IthassincebeenmodifiedandupdatedbytheAmericanCancerSocietyusingthefollowingsources. Berti-HearnL,ElliottB.Colostomycare:Aguideforhomecareclinicians. HomeHealthcareNow. 2019;37(2):68-78.Accessedat https://journals.lww.com/homehealthcarenurseonline/FullText/2019/03000/Colostomy_Care__A_Guide_for_Home_Care_Clinicians.2.aspxonOctober2,2019. Hollister.Typesofostomies.Accessedathttps://www.hollister.com/en/ostomycare/ostomycareprofessionalresources/resourcesforyourpatients/ostomyresourcesonOctober2,2019. Hollister.Understandingyourcolostomy.Accessedathttp://www.hollister.com/~/media/files/pdfs-for-download/ostomy-care/understanding-your-colostomy_923054-0917.pdfonOctober2,2019. UnitedOstomyAssociationofAmerica(UOAA).Colostomyguide.Accessedathttps://www.ostomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ColostomyGuide.pdfonOctober2,2019. UnitedOstomyAssociationofAmerica(UOAA).Newostomypatientguide:Colostomy,ileostomy,urostomy,continentdiversion.Accessedathttps://www.ostomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/All-In-One-New-Patient-Guide_2018.pdfonOctober2,2019. 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