Colostomy

A colostomy is a kind of procedure that creates an opening in the colon or large intestine and brings it to the front abdomen through a hole. A colostomy can be temporary or permanent. A permanent ostomy procedure is called an end ostomy. This is because the end of the colon is brought to the opening in the abdominal cavity and can not be reversed. A temporary colostomy brings a portion of the colon to the abdominal cavity opening. There are many different kinds of reasons for needing this kind of procedure, like cancer or a birth defect. 

During an end ostomy, the colon is brought to the front of the abdominal cavity, where it is turned under, like a cuff. From there, the edges of the colon are sewn shut to prevent any leakage. The opening of these crates is called a stoma. A stoma is generally pink or red in color, as well as being rather puffy. The stoma is where the waste will exit the body into a bag or pouch that is fixed to the abdomen wall. 

In a temporary colostomy or loop colostomy, a hole is cut in the side of the abdomen wall and attached to the corresponding part of the colon. This surgery will require you to be under general anesthesia as the procedure does take a while, but there is nothing to be worried about. The good news is that because this is a temporary procedure, it can be easily reversed. Surgery will be required again, but this time it will be a faster procedure. The part of the colon that has been attached to the abdomen wall is removed and sewn back up almost as nothing happened. This will allow the flow of stool to go back to how it was meant to be, and the affected patient can have regular bowel movements normally again. 

The reasons for needing an ostomy procedure can vary from patient to patient. A few examples can be cancer, an incurable disease in the colon, and birth defects. The reason for needing this procedure helps the health care provider determine the proper ostomy procedure that needs to take place. The most common is colostomies. A permanent ostomy will be required for the dangerous incurable diseases. A birth defect like an imperforate anus is the kind of situation where a permanent colostomy procedure will take place. This is because the anal cavity was not formed during birth or when it was formed, it was in the wrong spot. This will result in an end ostomy most of the time. 

The need for an ostomy procedure varies as well as the kind of ostomy procedure. This is a life-saving procedure, as strange as it sounds. A colostomy procedure is a significant life-changing event. It will take time for the patient to get used to it, primarily if they are used to using the bathroom typically. Even though patients can feel the pouch against their body, it is not easily visible to anyone unless the patient tells; it is almost undetectable. This being said, ostomy patients do not need to say to people about the procedure they went through as it can be a personal situation. It is up to the patient who they share with and how much they share.