Ostomy

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Summary

An ostomy is surgery to create an opening (stoma) from an area inside the body to the outside. It treats certain diseases of the digestive or urinary systems. It can be permanent, when an organ must be removed. It can be temporary, when the organ needs time to heal. The organ could be the small intestine, colon, rectum, or bladder. With an ostomy, there must be a new way for wastes to leave the body.

There are many different types of ostomy. Some examples are:

Ileostomy - the bottom of the small intestine (ileum) is attached to the stoma. This bypasses the colon, rectum and anus.
Colostomy - the colon is attached to the stoma. This bypasses the rectum and the anus.
Urostomy - the tubes that carry urine to the bladder are attached to the stoma. This bypasses the bladder.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

Ostomy (American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons)
Ostomy Surgery of the Bowel (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Living With

Living with an Ostomy (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Ostomy: Adapting to Life after Colostomy, Ileostomy, or Urostomy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Specifics

Colostomy Guide (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Ileostomy Guide (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Urinary Diversion (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
Urostomy Guide (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish

Images

Colostomy - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Colostomy (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Urinary Diversion (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
Find a Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse in Your Area (Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Children

For Parents of Children with Ostomies (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

Changing your ostomy pouch (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Colostomy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Ileostomy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Ileostomy - caring for your stoma (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Ileostomy - changing your pouch (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Ileostomy - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Ileostomy and your diet (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Urostomy - stoma and skin care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Ostomy

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