What Is Ostomy

Ostomy is a surgery performed when a part of the intestine doesn’t function as expected. This could also occur as a defect from birth. Cancer could also be responsible. The inconvenience could also be a cause, and these are just a few causes that could make one go for ostomy surgery.

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What is done during the surgery?

A small opening is given to the lower side of the abdomen. This opening is either meant to be used to remove an organ or left to allow the organ to heal.

It is usually used when the patient has diseases, medical conditions, or surgery relating to the digestive and urinary systems.

Creating an ostomy for a patient means waste will no longer pass out through the anus, and the private part as new means will be decided for waste to be ejected and released from the patient’s body.

This means urine will flow freely into the bag, and the patient is no longer at liberty to either stop or withholds it because the muscles are no longer involved.

This alternative means of waste passage can take different forms, and they are:

• Ileostomy
• Colostomy
• Urostomy

The types of Ostomy are similar but are done for different reasons and procedures.

Ileostomy

An ileostomy is a form of ostomy where the primary waste organs (colon, rectum, and anus) are bypassed, and the bottom of the small intestine is attached to the ostomy pouch created. It is usually inserted at the right-hand side of the stomach below the abdomen.

Colostomy

Colostomy – in this case, the anus and rectum are bypassed in the colon and are attached to the ostomy bag to pass out waste.

Urostomy

Urostomy is a type of ostomy carried out to pass out urine from the body through other means. The tubes that urine passes through is avoided in this case and it is attached to the ostomy pouch for urine passage.

The Benefits of Ostomy

Using an ostomy pouch reduces the urge and movement to pass out waste from the body as it can easily be done without any body movement.

Ostomy eliminates the stress and pain of going to the restroom often for patients who have urinary problems such as this, frequent the restroom, which can lead to back pains and body stress.

It also makes using the toilet easy and quick, as the patient only needs to empty the urine in his pouch, making everything fast and easy. The patient needs to be hygienic when doing this.

Ostomy makes life easy for those with urinary problems and makes the whole process of waste ejection seem easy and seamless without inconveniencing the patient. There are cases of people who go about their normal activities with an ostomy.

An Ostomy patient needs to practice a high level of hygiene by keeping the pouch clean always to prevent skin irritation and infection since the bag is always attached to the body and passage of waste can occur at any time.

Patients using an ostomy bag should ensure the skin around the pouch is always dry, and ostomy powder should be sprinkled around the skin area to prevent itching and irritation. 

However, some patients could feel unusual or react strangely to an ostomy which could lead to the patient vomiting, stooling, having a high fever, and finding it difficult to stool and even fart. Such patients are advised and required to consult the doctor immediately to seek medical attention.

Ostomy patients should adhere strictly to all instructions regarding the use and care of the ostomy pouch and also take the required medications according to prescriptions.