Ostomy - Colostomy and Ileostomy

Ostomy is a surgical round opening in the abdomen of a patient who suffers from an infection, injury, blockage, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or any other chronic disease in the rectum, bladder, colon, or ileum (small intestine and large intestine). The opening works as a new organ in the belly of the person and excretes the waste material of the body, urine, formed stool, semi-formed, stool, and liquid stool (depends on the type of disease and ostomy). For every disease in a specific part of the intestine, there is a different kind of ostomy, like ileostomy is for the treatment of the ileum or small intestine, a colostomy is for the treatment of the colon or large intestine, and urostomy refers to the bladder. 

What is Colostomy?

A colostomy is the treatment of any infection, injury, blockage, or cancer in the colon, a part of the large intestine. The stoma or opening appears as a result of the colon or large intestine operation, called a colostomy. In this surgery, surgeons remove the infected or injured part of the colon, bring the end of the large intestine to the opening (stoma or a hole made in the abdomen of the patient), to collect the solid or formed stool in a pouch, stoma or ostomy pouch. 

Sometimes, the colostomy is reversible. It means doctors halt the anus to discharge the feces temporarily. After the healing of the disease or infection, they bring the colon back to their natural location, and the patient can eject the stool through the organic passage, anus. However, in some acute diseases like inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer, it is permanent. A patient cannot exit the formed form of stool through their anal path. They can only use the stoma for the excretion purpose. 

What is Ileostomy?

This is the surgery of an infection, injury, blockage, cancer, bowel disorder, or any other chronic illness in the ileum, a part of the small intestine. Surgeons remove the infected section of the small intestine and bring a healthy portion to the abdomen. In the belly wall, doctors fabricate a round pit, called a stoma. The opening in the abdomen aims to collect the liquid stool or semi-formed stool in a bag called a stoma or ostomy pouch. It requires an entire system for the hole in the body. In this incision, surgeons do not remove the colon. The incision happens to give some rest to the large intestine and time for healing. Therefore, an ileostomy is usually a temporary procedure. After the recovering of the infected intestines, doctors close the stoma and bring the ileum back to the organic track. 

The stoma of the ileostomy discharges the liquid form of stool. Therefore, the patients feel comfortable with the drainable pouches. These are the stoma bags you can drain, empty, clean, and wear them back. You do not need to change a drainable pouch again and again. The movement of the bowel becomes unpredictable after the ileostomy; thus, wearing this pouching system provides coziness and convenience. You can empty it when you feel the discharge and change the entire pouching system twice a week. 

WOC Nurse

Every ostomate needs the assistance of a special stoma nurse, WOC, or ET nurse. They are professionals and experienced in the ostomy fields. They know every single information about stoma, care, and surgery. After the operation, a person goes through multiple changes in life, emotional, physical, and mental. Thus, they need appropriate guidance and support. Apart from families of the ostomates, a nurse plays a vital role in the recovery of the patient. Moreover, a WOC or ET nurse will guide you about the care of the opening. He/she will be your therapist, caretaker, dietician, guidance, and support.

In the hospital, you will find a nurse for you; however, once you go away from the clinic, you can find a nurse for you through hospitals, WOC clinics, and ostomy foundations.