Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison	Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	R	S	T	U	V	W	Z

Ileostomy

Definition

An ileostomy is an opening in your belly wall that is made during surgery. The word "ileostomy" comes from the words "ileum" and "stoma." Your ileum is the lowest part of your small intestine. "Stoma" means "opening." Your ileum will pass through a stoma after your surgery.

Alternative Names

Enterostomy

Description

Ileostomies are used to deliver waste out of the body when the colon or rectum are not working properly.

Before you have surgery to create an ileostomy, you may have surgery to remove all of your colon and rectum, or just part of your small intestine.

See also:

• Total proctolectomy with ileostomy
• Total abdominal colectomy
• Small bowel resection

You may use your ileostomy for only a short time, or it may be created for long-term use. When it is long-term, it is usually because all of your large intestine and rectum have been removed.

To create the ileostomy, the surgeon makes a small incision (cut) in the wall of your belly for the stoma. Then the part of your small intestine that is farthest from your stomach is brought up and used as the stoma.

When you look at your stoma, you are actually looking at the lining of your intestine. It looks a lot like the inside of your cheek.

Sometimes ileostomies are made as the first step in forming an ileal anal reservoir (called a J-pouch).

Risks

Talk with your doctor about these possible risks and complications.

Risks for any surgery are:

• Wound (incision) infection
• Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
• Breathing problems
• Heart attack or stroke

Risks for this surgery are:

• Bleeding inside your belly
• Damage to nearby organs
• Infection, including in the lungs, urinary tract, or belly
• Scar tissue may form in your belly and cause blockage in your intestines.
• Your wound may break open.
• Poor healing of your wound in your perineum (if your rectum was removed)
• You may not be able to absorb needed nutrients from food.
• You may get dehydrated (not have enough fluid in your body) if there is a lot of watery drainage from your ileostomy.

Review Date: 1/26/2009
Reviewed By: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.