colostomy
Last reviewed 01/2018
A colostomy is the formation of an artifical stoma between the colon and the abdominal wall. There are several variations with different indications:
- end colostomy
- loop colostomy
- Paul-Mickulicz - double-barrelled or exteriorization resection colostomy
- Hartmann's procedure
Closure of a colostomy is best left six weeks until the inflammation and oedema associated with obstruction have settled. Fibrous adhesion makes mobilization before closure more difficult after ten weeks (1).
Reference:
- Down, G.M. & Leaper, D.J. (1994). Abdominal stomas. Surgery, 12:1, 1-7.
end colostomy (follows a Hartmann's procedure or an abdominoperineal excision of the rectum)