Book
Care for cancer patients with artificial openings
- Types of Colostomy
- Surgical Site Locations:
- Sigmoid Colon: The most common location, found in the lower left side of the abdomen, where most colon cancers occur.
- Ascending Colon: The least common type of colostomy.
- Transverse Colon: May result in one or two openings in the upper or mid-abdomen.
- Descending Colon: This type is the most common and typically produces semi-formed to well-formed stool.
Artificial Opening Types in the Colon:
- Loop Colostomy: Often used in emergencies, temporary and large, with two openings: one for stool and the other for mucus.
- End Colostomy: Created by removing part of the intestine and closing off one end.
- Double Barrel Colostomy: Both ends of the colon are brought to the surface, but only one opening is functional.
- Ileostomy:
- When a portion of the small intestine (called the ileum) is brought to the abdominal wall to form the opening.
- The stool is more liquid in this part of the intestine and is typically found on the right side of the abdomen.
- Like colostomy, the presence of this opening means the patient cannot control defecation, requiring a bag to collect the stool.
