colostomy

A colostomy is an surgical procedure that creates an opening, called a stoma, in the abdomen to reroute the end of the large intestine (colon) outside the body. This opening allows waste to leave the body when the usual pathway through the rectum is blocked, diseased, or removed. The stoma is connected to a bag worn on the skin to collect stool. Colostomy can be temporary or permanent, depending on the reason for surgery. It helps manage conditions like cancer, injury, or infection, enabling waste elimination when normal bowel function isn’t possible.