Editing Colostomy (section)

{{short description|Surgical procedure in which a hole is cut into the colon and stoma is placed}}
{{distinguish|Colonoscopy|Colotomy|Corpus callosotomy}}
{{Infobox interventions |
  Name        = Colostomy |
  Image       = File:Diagram showing a colostomy with a bag CRUK 061.svg|
  Caption     = Diagram showing a colostomy|
  ICD10       = |
  ICD9        = {{ICD9proc|46.1}} |
  MeshID      = D003125 |
  MedlinePlus = 002942 |
  OtherCodes  = |
}}

A '''colostomy''' is an opening ([[stoma (medicine)|stoma]]) in the [[large intestine]] (colon), or the [[surgical procedure]] that creates one. The opening is formed by drawing the healthy end of the colon through an [[Surgical incision|incision]] in the anterior [[abdominal wall]] and [[surgical suture|suturing]] it into place. This opening, often in conjunction with an attached [[ostomy pouching system|ostomy system]], provides an alternative channel for [[feces]] to leave the body. Thus if the natural [[anus]] is unavailable for that function (for example, in cases where it has been removed as part of treatment for [[colorectal cancer]] or [[ulcerative colitis]]), an artificial anus takes over. It may be [[Colostomy reversal|reversible]] or irreversible, depending on the circumstances.