What Happens in an Ostomy Procedure?

An ostomy procedure is necessary for protecting the abdominal cavity. It allows inflamed or damaged parts of the digestive tract to heal. The procedure involves changing the bodily waste such as stool or urine in your body. It allows for the bodily waste to exist in a hole near the abdomen and collect in a pouch outside of the body. An ostomy bag can either be temporary or permanent.

What Does Ostomy Surgery Involve?

In the simplest of words, ostomy surgery is performed by a surgeon who makes an incision in your abdomen. Then, a portion of the intestine is attached to the abdominal wall to ensure that your stool exits through the hole in your abdomen rather than your rectum. This hole is known as a stoma. Anyone who has undergone the surgery wears a pouch over their stoma. It joins with a special sticker-like device which sticks to the skin and serves as a collection bag for urine and stool. It is also referred to as an appliance.

Since a stoma is not a muscle, it means that one cannot control when waste produce exits the body. Generally, people require an ostomy if they have ulcerative colitis, bowel obstructions, complicated or perforated diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, and/or cancer.

Types of Ostomy

Colostomy

In a colostomy, a stoma is created from the colon. If you undergo a colostomy stoma, an intestinal portion of at least a centimeter would come out of the skin. Colostomy also has two types that include a loop colostomy where a surgeon pulls a loop of the colon and stitches it to your skin, and an end colostomy where a surgeon pulls one end of your colon from the abdomen and stitches it to your skin.

Ileostomy

Another type of ostomy procedure that you need to know about is ileostomy. It is where a stoma is made from a part of your small intestine. The ileostomy stoma has an intestinal portion that appears at least 2 centimeters outside the skin.

Urostomy

A Urostomy is any procedure that deals with diverting the urine from the bladder. It is required for protecting an infected or diseased bladder. However, the surgeon might even remove the bladder during the procedure.

J-Pouch

Finally, there is also a J-Pouch procedure wherein an internal reservoir that has a shape which resembles J is created by the surgeon. It is needed for collecting stool.

Procedure

A laparotomy or ostomy creation surgery laparoscopically are available. Unlike a laparotomy that is more open surgery, a laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive. It simply involves small incisions into your abdomen and the insertion of special instruments.

For an ostomy creation, the bowel is decompressed, an incision is made at a specific loop, and the ostomy site is stitched. People undergo an ostomy procedure to live another day. However, one needs to ensure post-surgical care to prevent complications. Even if you feel tired, you must make sure that you continue to look after yourself.