Colostomy

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Colostomy - series

Overview

Recovery

Risks

Colostomy

Alternative Names:

Intestinal opening

Expectations after surgery:

The colostomy functions to drain stool (feces) from the colon into the colostomy bag. Most colostomy stool is softer and more liquid than stool that is passed normally. The degree of liquidity of the stool depends on the location of the intestinal segment used to form the colostomy.

Convalescence:

Recovery from this type of surgery is mostly related to the condition or procedure for which the colostomy was performed. Most patients are started on a special diet within 48 hours of surgery. Learning to care for the colostomy and the ostomy appliance will be necessary.

Review Date: 3/30/2005
Reviewed By: Brendan T. Campbell, M.D., M.P.H., Department of Surgery, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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