+1-617-394-8820 contact@baybiosciences.com

Colostomy, Types, Uses, Risks

by | May 9, 2022 | Info | 0 comments

Colostomy Overview

A colostomy is a surgical procedure that brings one end of the large intestine out through the abdominal wall.

During this procedure, one end of the colon is diverted through an incision in the abdominal wall to create a stoma. A stoma is an opening in the skin where a pouch is attached for collecting feces. Patients with temporary or long-term colostomies have pouches attached to their sides where feces collect and can be easily disposed of.

Colostomies aren’t always permanent, especially in children with birth defects.

A colostomy can be the result of one of several procedures to correct problems with the lower digestive tract. Other “ostomies” include ileostomy and urostomy. An ileostomy is a diversion of the bottom of the small intestine. A urostomy is a diversion of the tubes that carry urine out of the bladder.

A colostomy may also be referred to as bowel diversion therapy.

Colostomy Procedure

Colostomies are performed due to problems with the lower bowel and create new pathways for stools to pass. Once a colostomy has been created, the intestines work very much the same way as before, except for two changes:

  • The colon and rectum beyond where the colostomy has been done are disconnected or removed
  • Stools no longer leave the body through the anus

The conditions that can require a colostomy include certain illnesses, injuries, or other problems with the digestive tract, including:

  • An injury to the colon or rectum
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Colon cancer
  • Diverticulitis 
  • Hirschsprung’s disease, a rare condition that mostly affects children, and can cause stools to become stuck in the bowels
  • Intestinal obstruction, which is a blockage in the large bowel

How Colostomy is Performed

Generally you can expect something very similar to the following during the colostomy procedure:

After changing into a hospital gown, a nurse will place intravenous access, or an IV, in your arm. This allows the hospital staff to give you fluids and medications easily, and it’s also how you’ll be given your general anesthesia. This will put you into a deep, painless sleep during the operation.

While you’re asleep, the hospital staff will wheel you into the operating room for your colostomy. When you’ve been cleaned and prepared, your surgeon will make an incision in your abdomen. This incision may be large, or it may be a series of smaller incisions.

Smaller incisions are used for laparoscopy. This type of surgery involves using small tools and a camera that’s inserted into an incision. The camera will be used to guide your doctor during the surgery.

First, your doctor will locate the ideal part of the large intestine for the opening, or stoma. They will then cut the intestine in the appropriate area and bring it through your abdominal wall.

Next, your doctor will surgically implant a ring onto your abdominal wall. This ring will hold the end of the intestine in place. This ring may be permanent, or it may be placed temporarily to help your skin heal around your exposed intestine.

After everything is in place, your doctor will close your wound with stitches and you’ll be brought into a recovery room. During that time, the staff will wait for you to wake up and they’ll watch your vital signs to ensure everything goes smoothly.


Preparation of Colostomy

Before surgery, your doctor will take blood samples, perform a physical exam, and review your complete medical history. During these visits, tell your doctor about any prior surgeries you’ve had and any medications you’re taking, including over-the-counter medicines and supplements.

Your doctor will likely ask you to fast for at least 12 hours before surgery. You may also be given a laxative or an enema to take the night before surgery to help cleanse your bowels.

You should prepare to stay in the hospital for 3 to 10 days. This includes packing the right necessities, arranging care for your children, pets, or home, and taking the appropriate amount of time off of work.

After the Colostomy Procedure

Recovery in the hospital involves being slowly reintroduced to liquids and foods to ensure there are no digestive problems. On the first day, you’ll most likely be given only ice chips to ease your thirst. Afterward, you’ll be given clear liquids and eventually soft foods.

Once doctors are sure your bowels are working normally, you can start eating a regular diet, usually about 2 days after surgery.

Colostomy Bag

You’ll also be taught how to use colostomy bags correctly and how to keep your stoma clean, most likely by a stoma nurse who has been specially trained.

A colostomy bag is where your feces will collect while you have your colostomy. Hospital staff will also instruct you on your diet, activity level, and more. It’s important to follow these instructions.

You’ll have follow-up appointments with your doctor to check on your condition and the colostomy.

Types of Colostomy

A colostomy can be short-term (a few months), or a life-long situation. The different types of this procedure have to do with where they are located on the colon.

Temporary Colostomy

A temporary colostomy gives part of the bowel time to heal by redirecting where stools go out of the body.

This healing can take a few months or a few years, but once healing has occurred, the colostomy can be reversed via surgical procedure.

Permanent Colostomy

When part of the rectum becomes diseased, such as with cancer, a permanent colostomy is done. In this case, the diseased part of the colon is removed through a surgical procedure, or permanently cut off with the colostomy positioning.

Transverse Colostomy

Transverse colostomies are some of the more common colostomies, and are divided into the following two types:

 

  • Double-barrel transverse colostomies
  • Loop transverse colostomies

Usually transverse colostomies are done in the upper abdomen. This type of colostomy allows the stool to leave the body before it reaches the descending colon, and is typically temporary, allowing parts of the colon to heal.

Double-barrel transverse colostomy involves dividing the bowel into two complete parts. Each part has its own opening, or stoma, in the abdomen. Just like with a loop transverse, one opening is for stools, and the other is for only mucus.

Loop transverse colostomy creates two openings in the abdomen: One opening is for stools, the other is only for mucus, which is a normal byproduct of defecation.

In transverse colostomies, a lightweight, drainable pouch holds the stool and mucus and protects the skin from coming into contact with the stool. Usually, this pouch can easily be hidden under clothes.


Ascending Colostomy

In an ascending colostomy, only a small portion of the colon stays active, and the colostomy itself is placed on the right side of the abdomen. Because only a small portion of the colon stays active, the output is liquid, and contains a large number of digestive enzymes. A drainable pouch has to be worn at all times.

Ascending colostomies are rare these days, and ileostomies are usually recommended instead.

Descending and Sigmoid Colostomies

As the name would suggest, a descending colostomy is placed in the descending colon, on the lower left side of the abdomen. Typically, the output can be controlled, and is firmer.

A sigmoid colostomy is done on the sigmoid colon, and is a few inches lower than a descending colostomy. A sigmoid colostomy allows for a larger part of the colon to still do its job, so the stool output is usually more solid and happens on a regular basis.


Risks of Colostomy

A colostomy is a major surgical procedure. As with any surgery, there are risks of allergic reactions to anesthesia and excessive bleeding.

A colostomy also carries other risks, such as the following:

  • Damage to the nearby organs
  • Stoma fistula, a small hole that can develop next to the stoma
  • Irritated skin around the stoma
  • Stoma retraction, when the stoma may sink into the skin and cause leakage around the colostomy pouch
  • Parastomal Hernia which is when your intestines bulge out through the muscles around the stoma. This can cause a bump in the skin.
  • Scar tissue forming in the abdomen, which can cause blockages
  • Stoma blockage, which is when a buildup of food can block the opening and cause issues, including nausea, swelling, and output issues
  • Stomal ischaemia, when blood supply to the stoma is restricted. This may require additional surgery.

Your doctor can best explain your personal risks, risks and advantages of the surgery, and the potential for complications.

Living with a Colostomy

While it can take some time to adjust to life with a colostomy, most patients eventually learn how to continue with their regular life. Most colostomy equipment is discreet and can be hidden under clothes. After you have healed from your surgery, you should be able to do most of what you loved doing before.

As long as you pay attention to any new symptoms or pains in the area around your colostomy, and keep it properly cleaned and cared for, living a full life is completely possible.

 

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.

Samples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors available in all formats and types.

Our biobank procures and stores fully consented, deidentified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples and matched controls.

All our human tissue collections, human specimens and human bio-fluids are provided with detailed, samples associated patient’s clinical data.

This critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.

Patient’s data is extremely valuable for researchers and is used to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, and other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples, including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.

Including fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC.

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.

Please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.

Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:

We can also procure most human bio-specimens, special collections and requests for human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples are procured through IRB-approved clinical protocols and procedures.

In addition to the standard processing protocols, Bay Biosciences can also provide human plasma, serum, and PBMC bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols; you buy donor-specific collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us.

Bay Biosciences also provides human samples from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, contact us Now.

日本のお客様は、ベイバイオサイエンスジャパンBay Biosciences Japanまたはhttp://baybiosciences-jp.com/contact/までご連絡ください。