Stomas

What is a stoma?

A stoma is an opening on the abdominal surface that allows waste to be drained out of your body.

It is estimated that one in 335 people in the UK are currently living with a stoma.

The most common conditions leading to stoma surgery are bowel cancer, bladder cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and trauma.

A stoma can be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause. Some people have a temporary stoma formed with the intention that it may later be reversed. This is often the case when the diseased or damaged bowel lower down the digestive system needs time to heal for a period of time. Other patients have a permanent stoma formed from the outset, but improved surgical techniques mean that operations to form permanent stomas are declining.

Stoma names

Stomas are named after the body part they are draining. They have -ostomy at the end of their names.

Stomas of the small bowel are ileostomy (from the ileum) or jejunostomy (from the jejunum). They typically drain liquid small bowel content.

A stoma from the colon is called a colostomy, and drains formed stool.

A stoma from the urinary system is called a urostomy, and drains urine.

What does a stoma look like?

A stoma is circular, and protrudes from the abdominal surface. The lining of a stoma will be pink and moist, like the lining of the mouth. They are generally fashioned on either the right or left side of the abdomen, depending on what they drain.

Everyone's stoma is slightly different in size and shape. The important thing is that it does its job well.

A stoma has no nerve endings so you should feel no pain from it.

The stoma contents are generally collected in a bag, stuck to the skin around the stoma. This bag is worn underneath your clothes, and will need emptying from time to time.

Living with a stoma

Stomas are very helpful, but follow a slightly unusual set of rules to work well. If any of the following trouble you, please click for more information:

Blockages

High output stoma

Parastomal hernias