A stoma is created when a person undergoes a surgical procedure which results in a section of the bowel being brought to the surface of the abdominal wall. The bowel is opened and formed into a stoma, which will discharge faecal matter or urine, depending upon the type of surgery. A collection pouch is fitted over the stoma to collect the material coming through this alternative elimination site.
- People of all ages may require a stoma, from new born babies to the very elderly
- The stoma may be permanent or temporary
- Stomas can be created anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract, depending upon where the problem occurs
- Most people learn to manage the daily care of the stoma as part of their usual hygiene routine
- A return to a normal diet is to be expected
- People with stomas can return to work, recreation, parenthood and travel – in fact, almost everything they would want to do
- In Australia, there is a governmental scheme to subsidise the equipment required called the Stoma Appliance Scheme
- It’s very rare that a stoma can be seen under clothes and so no-one else needs to know that you have a stoma if you choose not to share this information
A person might have stoma surgery as treatment for:
- Trauma to the abdomen
- Some cancers of the bowel, bladder or pelvic organs
- Diseases such as diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis
- Congenital abnormalities
- Some uncommon familial disorders
- Some neurological disorders where toileting is complicated
- Degenerative changes in the bowel’s blood supply in preterm babies or the elderly
- After-effects of some radiation therapy to the pelvis
The important thing to remember is that stoma surgery is life saving surgery.
The most common types of stoma are:
Less common types of stoma are: