Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Colostomy

A colostomy operation is the surgical procedure in which the interior of the colon, at some point along its length, is brought to the outside through the abdominal wall. The contents of the bowel are allowed to drain into a bag.

The large intestine or large bowel consists of the colon and the section before the anus, the rectum. The colon is about 1.7m (5ft) long compared with the 6-7m (20 ft) of the small intestine and is roughly twice as wide as the small intestine. It connects the small intestine to the rectum.

The main function of the colon is to conserve water within the body by extracting it from the bowel contents. Of the volume of liquid content entering the colon, about 90% is reabsorbed into the blood, mainly as water.

The rectum is the short but stretchable length of bowel immediately above the anal canal. The anal canal is about 5cm long and is the short final portion of the intestinal canal. The anus has two muscle rings (sphincters), which keep the contents of the rectum inside until they can conveniently be discharged.

A common reason for removing a length of the colon or rectum is colorectal cancer. Treatment involves removing the length of the bowel containing the tumour. Once this is done, there are two possibilities. Firstly, the two free ends of bowel are joined together edge-to-edge in a procedure called an anastomosis, so that the bowel contents can continue to move along until they reach the rectum.

However, in some cases, especially if the cancer is close to the anus, the colon is brought to the surface of the skin on the abdomen with an opening (a stoma). A bag is worn over the stoma to collect the contents of the bowel. This is known as a colostomy.

In many cases colostomies are temporary, and when closed leave only a minor scar. Some colostomies have to be permanent because joining up the cut ends of the bowel is impracticable. Cancer of the rectum may involve removing the whole rectum and anus. This requires a permanent colostomy.

• Why is it necessary?
• When should it be done?
• How is it performed?
• Recovery

• Caesarean sectionCancerCancer of the bile ductCancer of the bladderCancer of the boneCancer of the brainCancer of the breastCancer of the breast, maleCancer of the cervixCancer of the colon, rectum or bowelCancer of the kidneyCancer of the larynxCancer of the liverCancer of the lungCancer of the mouthCancer of the oesophagusCancer of the ovaryCancer of the pancreasCancer of the prostateCancer of the skinCancer of the stomachCancer of the testicleCancer of the thyroidCancer of the uterusCancer of the vaginaCancer of the vulvaCarbon monoxide poisoningCarersCarpal tunnel syndromeCartilage damageCataract surgeryCataractsCatarrhCavernous sinus thrombosisCEA testCellulitisCerebral palsyCerebrovascular diseaseCervical screening testCervical spondylosisCharcot-Marie-Tooth diseaseChemotherapyChest infectionChickenpoxChildren in careChiropracticChlamydiaChloride testCholesterolChorionic Villus samplingChronic fatigue syndromeChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCircumcisionCirrhosisCleft lip and palateClinical trialsClub footCoeliac diseaseCognitive behavioural therapyCold soreCold, commonColicColostomyColour vision deficiencyColposcopyCombined contraceptive pillComplaints about NHS servicesComplementary therapiesComplex Regional Pain SyndromeCondoms (male and female)Congenital heart diseaseCongestive heart failureConjunctivitisConsent to treatmentConstipationContraceptionContraceptive implants and injectionsContraceptive patchCoronary angioplastyCoronary artery bypassCoronary heart diseaseCorticosteroid (drugs)Corticosteroid preparations (topical)Cosmetic surgeryCoughCounsellingCradle capCraniosynostosisCreutzfeldt-Jakob diseaseCrohn's diseaseCroupCT scanCushing's syndromeCuts and grazesCystic fibrosisCystitisCystoscopyCytomegalovirus

  ---