Patient Education Colorectal Cancer: Your Care and Recovery | Page 45

Types of Ostomies
❒ Colostomy: The
surgically created
opening of the colon
(large intestine) that
results in a stoma. A
colostomy is made
when a portion of the
colon or the rectum
is removed and the
remaining colon
is brought to the
abdominal wall. Output
from colostomy may
be semi-solid or solid
depending on where
the ostomy is created.
❒ Temporary Colostomy: Allows the lower portion of the colon to rest or
heal. It may have one or two openings. If it has two, one will discharge
only mucus.
❒ Permanent Colostomy: Usually involves the loss of part of the colon,
most often the rectum. The end of the remaining portion of the colon is
brought out to the abdominal wall to form the stoma.
❒ Sigmoid or Descending Colostomy: The most common type of ostomy
surgery, in which the end of the descending or sigmoid colon is brought
to the surface of the abdomen. The stoma is usually on the lower left side
of the abdomen.
❒ Transverse Colostomy: The surgical opening created in the transverse
colon resulting in one or two openings. It is located in the upper
abdomen, middle or right side.

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