Ostomy

What Is an Ostomy?

An ostomy is a surgery that creates an opening, known as a stoma, on the abdomen to allow waste to leave the body. It may be needed when the digestive or urinary system can’t function normally due to disease, injury, or other health conditions.

What Are the Types of Ostomies?

A colostomy connects the colon to the abdomen, allowing stool to exit the body through the stoma.
An ileostomy redirects the end of the small intestine (the ileum) to the abdomen. The stool will have a liquid consistency and exit through the stoma.
A urostomy allows urine to exit through the stoma.

These procedures can be temporary or permanent.

Why is an Ostomy Used?

Your provider may recommend ostomy surgery for several reasons, including:

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Cancer Treatment
Injury or Trauma
Bowel Obstruction
Congenital Disorders

UR Medicine's Approach

Before surgery, your provider will do a medical evaluation, which may include:

Bloodwork
Imaging tests
Consultations

Your provider will explain how to prepare for surgery. This may include fasting, clearing the digestive system, and discontinuing some medications.

H3: What Happens During an Ostomy?

An ostomy may be performed as a minimally invasive procedure or with open surgery. During the procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the abdominal wall. They then pull a part of the intestine or ureter through the opening, creating the stoma. They will secure the stoma to the abdominal skin before closing the incision.

Recovery varies depending on the type of ostomy. Your provider will walk you through every step, preparing you for life with an ostomy. They will instruct you on how to clean the stoma, change the pouch, and provide you with a personalized dietary plan.

What Sets Us Apart?

Our colorectal surgeons see a wide variety of conditions—from the simple to the serious—every day. As a result, we have a greater depth of experience than most colorectal surgeons, especially in handling complex or difficult cases. Our surgeons are all board-certified and have published hundreds of papers on colorectal disease and its treatments. They are at the forefront of their field and are regularly invited to speak and teach around the world.

As part of the only academic medical center in the region, we’re highly involved in research and clinical trials. This means you will have the most advanced treatments available to you, often years before they become widely available. For cancer cases, our medical oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, and other experts come together weekly to reach a consensus on the best treatment for you.