What is Colostomy and What is Ileostomy?
- Introduction
- Colostomy
- Iliostomy
- Ileoanal Reservoir Surgery
- Organizations to Help You
- Research on Surgery Options
- Video Reference
Introduction
To understand what is a colostomy, what is an ileostomy or ileoanal reservoir surgery is to understand that they are different types of ostomy meaning surgery in removing all or parts of the intestine. Treatment for Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and familial adenomatous polyposis often involves this type of surgery.
When the intestines are removed, the surgeon needs to create an opening in the abdomen in order for a stool to pass through. The surgery to create the new opening is called ostomy. The opening is called a stoma.
When the colon and rectum are removed, the surgeon performs an ileostomy to attach the bottom of the small intestine (ileum) to the stoma.
When the rectum is removed, the surgeon performs a colostomy to attach the colon to the stoma. A temporary colostomy may be performed when part of the colon has been removed and the rest of the colon needs to heal.
Ileoanal reservoir surgery is an alternative to a permanent ileostomy. It is completed in two surgeries. In the first surgery, the colon and rectum are removed and a temporary ileostomy is done. In the second surgery, the ileostomy is closed and part of the small intestine is used to create an internal pouch to hold stool. This pouch is attached to the anus. The muscle of the rectum is left in place, so the stool in the pouch does not leak out of the anus. People who have this surgery are able to control their bowel movements.
Organizations to Assist You
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
P.O. Box 17864
Milwaukee, WI 53217
Phone: (414) 964-1799 or 1-888-964-2001
Email: [email protected]
Internet: www.iffgd.org
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Inc.
386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10016-8804
Phone: 1-800-932-2423 or (212) 685-3440
Email: [email protected]
Internet: www.ccfa.org
United Ostomy Association, Inc.
19772 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 200
Irvine, CA 92612-2405
Phone: 1-800-826-0826 or (949) 660-8624
Email: [email protected]
Internet: www.uoa.org
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse collects resource
information on digestive diseases for the Combined Health Information Database (CHID). CHID is a database produced by health-related agencies of the Federal Government. The CHID database located on the World Wide Web at http://chid.nih.gov/simple/simple.php, provides titles, abstracts, and availability information for health information and health education resources. See the results of our CHID research on Colostomy, Ileostomy and Ileoanal Reservoir Surgery,” June 16, 2004.
Video: Colostomy Tutorial – The prednisone National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/colostomy/htm/index.htm
