
n., pl., -mies.
- Surgical construction of an artificial excretory opening from the colon.
- The opening created by such a surgical procedure.
On this page
American Heritage Dictionary:
co·los·to·my |

|
Featured Videos:
|
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia:
colostomy |
For more information on colostomy, visit Britannica.com.
Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer:
Colostomy |
Key Terms: Diverticulum, Embolism, Enema, Intestine, Ischemia.
Definition
Ostomy is a surgical procedure used to create an opening for urine or feces to be released from the body. Colostomy refers to a surgical procedure in which a portion of the large intestine is brought through the abdominal wall to carry stool out of the body.
Purpose
A colostomy is created as a result of treatment for various disorders of the large intestine, including cancer, obstruction, inflammatory bowel disease, ruptured diverticulum, ischemia (compromised blood supply), or traumatic injury. Temporary colostomies are created to divert stool from injured or diseased portions of the large intestine, allowing rest and healing. These temporary colostomies are removed at a later date, with restoration of normal bowel function. Permanent colostomies are performed when the distal bowel (bowel at the farthest distance) must be removed or is blocked and inoperable. Although colorectal cancer is the most common indication for a permanent colostomy, only about 10–15% of patients with this diagnosis require a colostomy.
Description
Surgery will result in one of three types of colostomies:
Preparation
As with any surgical procedure, the patient will be required to sign a consent form after the procedure is explained thoroughly. Blood and urine studies, along with various x rays and an electrocardiograph (ECG) may be ordered as the doctor deems necessary. If possible, the patient should visit an enterostomal therapist, who will mark an appropriate place on the abdomen for the stoma, and offer pre-operative education on ostomy management.
In order to empty and cleanse the bowel, the patient may be placed on a low-residue diet for several days prior to surgery. A liquid diet may be ordered for at least the day before surgery, with nothing by mouth after midnight. A series of enemas and/or oral preparations (GoLytely or Colyte) may be ordered to empty the bowel of stool. Oral antibiotics (neomycin, erythromycin, or kanamycin sulfate) may be given to decrease bacteria in the intestine and help prevent post-operative infection. A nasogastric tube may be inserted from the nose to the stomach on the day of surgery or during surgery to remove gastric secretions and prevent nausea and vomiting. A urinary catheter (a thin plastic tube) may also be inserted to keep the bladder empty during surgery, giving more space in the surgical field and decreasing chances of accidental injury.
Aftercare
Post-operative care for the patient with a new colostomy involves monitoring of blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and temperature. Breathing tends to be shallow because of the effect of anesthesia and the patient's reluctance to breathe deeply and experience pain caused by the abdominal incision. The patient is instructed how to support the operative site during deep breathing and coughing, and given pain medication as necessary. Fluid intake and output is measured, and the operative site is observed for color and amount of wound drainage.
Two to three days after the operation, the patient will be able to resume eating. For both open and laparoscopic resections, most patients are discharged from the hospital in five to seven days. Healing may take one to two months.
A colostomy pouch will generally have been placed on the patient's abdomen, around the stoma during surgery. During the hospital stay, the patient and caregivers will be educated about how to care for the colostomy. Determination of appropriate pouching supplies and a schedule of how often to change the pouch should be established. Regular assessment and meticulous care of the skin surrounding the stoma is important to maintain an adequate surface on which to apply the pouch. Some patients with colostomies are able to routinely irrigate the stoma, resulting in regulation of bowel function; rather than needing to wear a pouch, these patients may need only a dressing or cap over their stoma. Often, an enterostomal therapist will visit the patient at home after discharge to help the patient resume normal daily activities.
Risks
Potential complications of colostomy surgery include:
Normal Results
Complete healing is expected without complications. The period of time required for recovery from the surgery varies depending on the patient's overall health prior to surgery. The colostomy patient without other medical complications should be able to resume all daily activities once recovered from the surgery.
Abnormal Results
The doctor should be made aware of any of the following problems after surgery:
Stomal complications to be monitored include:
Resources
Periodicals
Edwards, D. P., et al. "Stoma -related complications are more frequent after transverse colostomy than loop ileostomy: a prospective randomized clinical trial." British Journal of Surgery. 88, no. 3 (March 2001): 360-363.
Whitehead, William E., et al. "Treatment options for Fecal Incontinence." Diseases of the Colon and Rectum 44, no. 1 (January 2001): 131-144.
Organizations
The United Ostomy Association, a self-help organization, provides useful information. 36 Executive Park, Suite 120, Irvine, CA 92714. Phone: (800) 826-0826 or (714) 660-8624. uoa@deltanet.com.
Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society. 2755 Bristol Street, Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. (714) 476-0268.
—Kathleen Dredge Wright
Oxford Food & Nutrition Dictionary:
colostomy |
Surgical creation of an artificial conduit (a stoma) on the abdominal wall for voiding of intestinal contents following surgical removal of much of the colon and/or rectum. See also gastro-intestinal tract.
Saunders Veterinary Dictionary:
colostomy |
An artificial opening (stoma) created in the large intestine and brought to the surface of the abdomen for the purpose of evacuating the bowels; also the opening (stoma) so created. Has been used successfully in the treatment of rectal tears in horses.
Random House Word Menu:
categories related to 'colostomy' |

Rhymes:
colostomy |
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
Colostomy |
| Colostomy | |
|---|---|
| Intervention | |
Line drawing showing a permanent colostomy for rectal cancer. |
|
| ICD-9-CM | 46.1 |
| MeSH | D003125 |
A colostomy is a surgical procedure in which a stoma is formed by drawing the healthy end of the large intestine or colon through an incision in the anterior abdominal wall and suturing it into place. This opening, in conjunction with the attached stoma appliance, provides an alternative channel for feces to leave the body. It may be reversible or irreversible depending on the circumstances.
|
Contents
|
There are many reasons for this procedure. Some common reasons are:
Placement of the stoma on the abdomen can occur at any location along the colon, but the most common placement is on the lower left side near the sigmoid where a majority of colon cancers occur. Other locations include the ascending, transverse, and descending sections of the colon.[1]
Types of colostomy:[2]
Colostomy surgery that is pre-planned usually has a higher rate of long-term success than surgery performed in an emergency situation.[citation needed]
| This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2007) |
People with colostomies who have ostomies of the sigmoid colon or descending colon may have the option of irrigation, which allows for the person to not wear a pouch, but rather just a gauze cap over the stoma, and to schedule irrigation for times that are convenient. To irrigate, a catheter is placed inside the stoma, and flushed with water, which allows the feces to come out of the body into an irrigation sleeve. Most colostomates irrigate once a day or every other day, though this depends on the person, their food intake, and their health.
| This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2007) |
Colostomies are not viewed positively due to the misconception that it is difficult to hide the pouch and the smell of feces, or to keep the pouch securely attached. However, modern colostomy pouches are well-designed, odor-proof, and allow stoma patients to continue normal activities. Latex-free tape is available for ensuring a secure attachment. People with colostomies must wear an ostomy pouching system to collect intestinal waste. Ordinarily the pouch must be emptied or changed several times a day depending on the frequency of activity; in general the further from the anus (i.e., the further 'up' the intestinal tract) the ostomy is located the greater the output and more frequent the need to empty or change the pouch.
The preferred option by the surgical community, wherever possible, is now an internal colo-anal pouch which eliminates the need for an external pouch.[citation needed] In place of an external appliance, an internal ileo-anal pouch is constructed using a portion of the patient's lower intestine, to act as a new rectum to replace the removed original.
A UK man named Ged Galvin has been given a remote-controlled bowel.[3]
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
| ostomy | |
| colo– (prefix) | |
| proctosigmoidectomy (medicine) |
| What is the purpose of a colostomy? Read answer... | |
| Can you swim with a colostomy? Read answer... | |
| Pregnant and colostomy? Read answer... |
| What is the difference between a colostomy and a loop colostomy? | |
| Temporary colostomy at the proximal end of a double barrel colostomy? | |
| What is the difference between end colostomy and loop colostomy? |
Copyrights:
![]() |
![]() | American Heritage Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
![]() | Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 1994-2012 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() |
![]() | Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer. Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer. Copyright © 2006 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
![]() | Oxford Food & Nutrition Dictionary. A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. Copyright © 1995, 2003, 2005 by A. E. Bender and D. A. Bender. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | Saunders Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() |
![]() | Random House Word Menu. © 2010 Write Brothers Inc. Word Menu is a registered trademark of the Estate of Stephen Glazier. Write Brothers Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
| Rhymes. Oxford University Press. © 2006, 2007 All rights reserved. Read more | ||
![]() |
![]() | Wikipedia on Answers.com. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Colostomy. Read more |
Mentioned in