Ostomies: what is it, what is it for and how many types of ostomy do they exist?

By Cristiano Antonino On Sep 15, 2022

What are ostomies? The word “ostomy” (in English “stoma”) comes from the Greek and means “opening”. It is the result of a surgical procedure through which an opening is created through the skin, thus allowing various elements (gas, urine, faeces) to pass from the inside to the outside of the body through a newly formed channel

An ostomy can be temporary or permanent.

Why is an ostomy necessary?

This alternative passage is necessary in those operations in which the natural route to the outside is eliminated, e.g. in the case of amputation of the anus during operations to remove large tumour masses in the area.

What types of ostomy exist?

There are various types of ostomies, including:

enterostomies (ileostomy and colostomy) which allow faeces and gas to pass);
tracheostomy: allows an alternative airway to be opened at the level of the trachea, when prolonged endotracheal intubation is required or in the case of surgery that makes intubation impossible;
urostomy: allows the passage of urine to the outside when the bladder is removed.

An ostomy, in many cases, is the only solution for dealing with a pathology that has required major surgical demolition, especially in the case of large tumour masses.

Although it represents, especially the definitive one, an element that diminishes the patient’s quality of life and a source of discomfort for the patient, it should nevertheless be experienced as the solution to a problem and not as a problem itself.

Managing enteric ostomies: advice

Cleaning must be very thorough, and when applying the pouch, care must be taken not to position it too loosely, otherwise there will be a definite leakage of faeces, which can irritate the ostomy.

The positioning must also not be too tight, otherwise the ostomy will be strangled and the blood supply will be cut off, resulting in tissue necrosis.

There are two types of ostomy pouches: one-piece and two-piece (adhesive part plus pouch).

Their application must also be assessed according to whether the patient is bedridden or not.

Always replace the bag when it is two-thirds full to prevent the weight from detaching it.

To remedy the bad smell due to gas formation, it is now possible to find bags with filters on the market; however, adequate nutrition remains important.

I need help with ostomy management at home, who should I contact?

You can contact an ostomatherapist, i.e. a nurse specialised in ostomy management.

He or she will help you initially to manage your ostomy and will then accompany you on an educational pathway that will enable you to become independent in ostomy management.