Health encyclopaedia

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How is it performed? of Colostomy

A cut is made through the wall of the abdomen to one side of the main incision. The upper cut end of the bowel is brought out through this opening and the edges are stitched to the margins of the opening. The lower cut end may be closed internally or may also be brought out.

The cut wall of the bowel heals to the edges of the surgical incision, which is thus kept open. Bowel contents pass out through the colostomy and are collected in a waterproof bag, which is sealed around the margins with special adhesive. A plug is sometimes also used.

Recent advances in surgical instrumentation have made closing up a colostomy easier. Until recently it was technically impossible to rejoin the bowel if a length had been removed that involved the upper rectum. However recent advances in surgical instrumentation has made a colostomy easier to join edges in places that are difficult to reach. Linear and circular staplers are now used routinely in colostomy surgery. They allow a low cut through the rectum, because the stapler can reach down and close off the upper cut edge of the rectum. A circular stapler can even be inserted via the anus to join the cut edge of the descending colon to the stump of the rectum.

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