Colostomy surgery involves bringing part of your colon (large intestine) to the surface of your abdomen to form an ostomy. A colostomy is usually created on the left-hand side of your abdomen, and can be either temporary or permanent depending on the reason for surgery or the severity of the illness.
Stool in this part of the intestine is more solid and will need to be collected using an ostomy pouching system.
What is an end colostomy?
The most common type of colostomy is an end colostomy. The end of the colon (large intestine) is brought out through a small opening in the abdominal wall, and attached to the skin of the abdomen creating an opening (ostomy).
An end colostomy can be either permanent or temporary
A temporary colostomy is relevant in situations where the diseased part of the intestine has either been removed or needs to heal before the ends are joined together.
A permanent colostomy is chosen in situations where it is too risky or not possible to re-join the two parts of the intestine.
What is a loop colostomy?
In a loop colostomy, a loop of the bowel is brought out to the level of the skin. An incision is made halfway through the exposed bowel loop to form two openings, which are then rolled down and sewn onto the skin.
