colostomy /kəlos″təmē/ [Gk, kolon + stoma, mouth] , surgical creation of an artificial anus on the abdominal wall by incising the colon and bringing it out to the surface, performed for cancer of the colon, benign obstructive tumors, and severe abdominal wounds. Immediate postoperative care is the same as for abdominal surgery. Compare enterostomy. Kinds include loop colostomy, double-barrel colostomy. ▪ METHOD: A colostomy may be single-barreled, with one opening, or double-barreled, with distal and proximal loops opening onto the abdomen. The latter is performed for complete blockage of the lower bowel or in paraplegia to simplify daily management. A temporary colostomy may be done to divert feces after surgery, as in the repair of Hirschsprung’s disease, or from an inflamed area; it is repaired when the colon has healed or the inflammation subsides. ▪ PATIENT CARE CONSIDERATIONS: Preoperative care focuses on teaching the patient what to expect after surgery and prepartion for the procedure. A high-calorie, clear liquid diet is given. An antibiotic, usually neomycin, is prescribed to reduce the bacterial count in the bowel, and bowel-cleansing methods are used. Postoperatively, care of the stoma, management of the evaculation of feces, and protection of the skin surrounding the stoma must be addressed. ▪ OUTCOME CRITERIA: Recovery will vary depending on the type of colostomy and the reason the colostomy is needed.
