Ostomy & Parastomal Hernia Defined

• Ostomy is a surgically created opening in the abdominal wall that results in the external diversion of feces and urine
• An ostomy may be permanent or temporary, and each procedure results in a stoma, which is the end of the small or large intestine that can be seen protruding through the abdominal wall
• There are three common types of ostomy:
• Colostomy: A surgically created opening from the colon to the abdominal wall to allow the elimination of feces
• Ileostomy: A surgically created opening from the last part of the small intestine (ileum) to the abdominal wall to allow elimination of small bowel effluent
• Urostomy: A surgically created opening to divert the flow of urine by transplanting the ureters into an isolated segment of the ileum, bringing one end through the abdominal wall to create a stoma. Urine flows from the kidney to the ureters, then through the ileal conduit, exiting through the stoma

Parastomal hernia occurs when one or more loops of the bowel protrude through the abdominal wall, creating a bulge around the peristomal skin