What does stoma mean?          Stoma refers to the end of the intestine or ureter that can be viewed protruding through the abdominal wall.  Stoma in modern Greek is “mouth.”

A colostomy identifies that the opening is from the colon (large intestine).  Depending upon which side the opening is (left or right) will sometimes determine what kind of materials are needed to manage the colostomy. Surgically created in the abdominal wall, a colostomy can be temporary or permanent.  A temporary colostomy may be required to give a portion of the bowel a chance to rest and heal.  When healing has occurred, the colostomy can be reversed and normal bowel function restored. A permanent colostomy may be required when a disease affects the end part of the colon or rectum.  Reasons for colostomy surgery may include cancer, diverticulitis, imperforated anus, Hirschsprung's disease, and trauma.

An ileostomy is when the ileum (the lowest part of teh small intestine) is brought to the surface of the abdomen.  An ileostomy surgery may be necessary when a disease or injured colon cannot be treated successfully with medicine. The waste that exits from the stoma of an ileostomy can be liquid and sometimes challenging to manage.  Reasons for ileostomy surgery may include ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and familial polyposis. There is also a Koch’s pouch, also known as a continent ileostomy.  This link to the American Cancer Society is very informative as well: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6x_Ileostomy.asp?sitearea=CRI&viewmode=print&