Stoma (medicine)
Encyclopedia
A stoma is an opening (a direct translation of the Koine Greek
would be "mouth"), either natural or surgically
created, which connects a portion of the body cavity to the outside environment. Surgical procedures in which stomata are created are ended in the suffix '-ostomy' and begin with a prefix denoting the organ or area being operated on.
In anatomy
, a natural stoma is any opening in the body, such as the mouth. Any hollow organ can be manipulated into an artificial stoma as necessary. This includes the esophagus
, stomach
, duodenum
, ileum
, colon
, pleural cavity
, ureters, urinary bladder
, and kidney pelvis.
One well-known form of an artificial stoma is a colostomy
, which is a surgically-created opening in the large intestine
that allows the removal of feces
out of the body, bypassing the rectum
, to drain into a pouch
or other collection device. The historical practice of trepanation
was also a type of stoma.
Stoma (Anatomy), a stoma refers to a mouthlike part. In particular it relates to a procedure involving the gastrointestinal tract
(GIT) or gastrointestinal system (GIS). The GIT begins at the mouth or oral cavity and continues until its termination, which is the anus. This surgical
procedure is invoked usually as a result of and solution to disease in the GIT. The procedure involves bisecting this tube, usually between the later stage of the small intestine (ileum
) and the large intestine or colon
, hence colostomy
, and exiting it from the body in the abdominal region.
The point of exiting is what is known as the stoma. For greatest success and to minimise negative effects, it is preferable to perform this procedure as low down in the tract as possible, as this allows the maximal amount of natural digestion
to occur before eliminating fecal
matter from the body. The stoma is usually covered with a removable pouching system (adhesive or mechanical) that collects and contains the output for later disposal. Modern pouching systems
enable most individuals to resume normal activities and lifestyles after surgery, often with no outward physical evidence of the stoma or its pouching system.
Koine Greek
Koine Greek is the universal dialect of the Greek language spoken throughout post-Classical antiquity , developing from the Attic dialect, with admixture of elements especially from Ionic....
would be "mouth"), either natural or surgically
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
created, which connects a portion of the body cavity to the outside environment. Surgical procedures in which stomata are created are ended in the suffix '-ostomy' and begin with a prefix denoting the organ or area being operated on.
In anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
, a natural stoma is any opening in the body, such as the mouth. Any hollow organ can be manipulated into an artificial stoma as necessary. This includes the esophagus
Esophagus
The esophagus is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. During swallowing, food passes from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus and travels via peristalsis to the stomach...
, stomach
Stomach
The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...
, duodenum
Duodenum
The duodenum is the first section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms anterior intestine or proximal intestine may be used instead of duodenum...
, ileum
Ileum
The ileum is the final section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms posterior intestine or distal intestine may be used instead of ileum.The ileum follows the duodenum...
, colon
Colon (anatomy)
The colon is the last part of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body, and is the site in which flora-aided fermentation of unabsorbed material occurs. Unlike the small intestine, the colon does not play a...
, pleural cavity
Pleural cavity
In human anatomy, the pleural cavity is the potential space between the two pleura of the lungs. The pleura is a serous membrane which folds back onto itself to form a two-layered, membrane structure. The thin space between the two pleural layers is known as the pleural cavity; it normally...
, ureters, urinary bladder
Urinary bladder
The urinary bladder is the organ that collects urine excreted by the kidneys before disposal by urination. A hollow muscular, and distensible organ, the bladder sits on the pelvic floor...
, and kidney pelvis.
One well-known form of an artificial stoma is a colostomy
Colostomy
A colostomy is a surgical procedure in which a stoma is formed by drawing the healthy end of the large intestine or colon through an incision in the anterior abdominal wall and suturing it into place. This opening, in conjunction with the attached stoma appliance, provides an alternative channel...
, which is a surgically-created opening in the large intestine
Large intestine
The large intestine is the third-to-last part of the digestive system — — in vertebrate animals. Its function is to absorb water from the remaining indigestible food matter, and then to pass useless waste material from the body...
that allows the removal of feces
Feces
Feces, faeces, or fæces is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the anus or cloaca during defecation.-Etymology:...
out of the body, bypassing the rectum
Rectum
The rectum is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, and the gut in others, terminating in the anus. The human rectum is about 12 cm long...
, to drain into a pouch
Pouch
Pouch may refer to:* A small bag such as a pocket, teabag, money pouch, sporran, etc* Cadaver pouch, body bag * Diplomatic pouch* Electric heating pouch, medical apparatus, electric heating device for curative treatment...
or other collection device. The historical practice of trepanation
Trepanation
Trepanning, also known as trephination, trephining or making a burr hole, is a surgical intervention in which a hole is drilled or scraped into the human skull, exposing the dura mater in order to treat health problems related to intracranial diseases. It may also refer to any "burr" hole created...
was also a type of stoma.
Stoma (Anatomy), a stoma refers to a mouthlike part. In particular it relates to a procedure involving the gastrointestinal tract
Gastrointestinal tract
The human gastrointestinal tract refers to the stomach and intestine, and sometimes to all the structures from the mouth to the anus. ....
(GIT) or gastrointestinal system (GIS). The GIT begins at the mouth or oral cavity and continues until its termination, which is the anus. This surgical
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
procedure is invoked usually as a result of and solution to disease in the GIT. The procedure involves bisecting this tube, usually between the later stage of the small intestine (ileum
Ileum
The ileum is the final section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms posterior intestine or distal intestine may be used instead of ileum.The ileum follows the duodenum...
) and the large intestine or colon
Colon (anatomy)
The colon is the last part of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body, and is the site in which flora-aided fermentation of unabsorbed material occurs. Unlike the small intestine, the colon does not play a...
, hence colostomy
Colostomy
A colostomy is a surgical procedure in which a stoma is formed by drawing the healthy end of the large intestine or colon through an incision in the anterior abdominal wall and suturing it into place. This opening, in conjunction with the attached stoma appliance, provides an alternative channel...
, and exiting it from the body in the abdominal region.
The point of exiting is what is known as the stoma. For greatest success and to minimise negative effects, it is preferable to perform this procedure as low down in the tract as possible, as this allows the maximal amount of natural digestion
Digestion
Digestion is the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into smaller components that are more easily absorbed into a blood stream, for instance. Digestion is a form of catabolism: a breakdown of large food molecules to smaller ones....
to occur before eliminating fecal
Feces
Feces, faeces, or fæces is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the anus or cloaca during defecation.-Etymology:...
matter from the body. The stoma is usually covered with a removable pouching system (adhesive or mechanical) that collects and contains the output for later disposal. Modern pouching systems
Ostomy pouching system
An ostomy pouching system is a medical device prosthetic that provides a means for the collection of waste from a surgically diverted biological system and the creation of a stoma...
enable most individuals to resume normal activities and lifestyles after surgery, often with no outward physical evidence of the stoma or its pouching system.
Examples of stomata
- DacryocystorhinostomyDacryocystorhinostomyDacryocystorhinostomy is a surgical procedure to restore the flow of tears into the nose from the lacrimal sac when the nasolacrimal duct does not function.-Traditional:...
- EntericEntericEnteric can refer to:* A general term describing something related to or associated with the intestines** Microorganisms that inhabit the intestines are commonly known as enteric bacteria* Enteric nervous system...
:- Cecostomy
- ColostomyColostomyA colostomy is a surgical procedure in which a stoma is formed by drawing the healthy end of the large intestine or colon through an incision in the anterior abdominal wall and suturing it into place. This opening, in conjunction with the attached stoma appliance, provides an alternative channel...
- Duodenostomy
- IleostomyIleostomyAn ileostomy is a surgical opening constructed by bringing the end or loop of small intestine out onto the surface of the skin. Intestinal waste passes out of the ileostomy and is collected in an external pouching system stuck to the skin...
- JejunostomyJejunostomyJejunostomy refers to an artificial opening into the jejunum. It is performed to allow feeding tube placement. Jejunostomy is an alternative to gastrostomy when the stomach is unsuitable for a feeding tube....
- Appendicostomy (see Malone antegrade continence enemaMalone antegrade continence enemaA Malone antegrade continence enema, also known as Malone procedure and by the abbreviation MACE, is a surgical procedure used to create a continent pathway proximal to the anus that facilitates fecal evacuation using enemas....
)
- Esophagostomy
- GastrostomyGastrostomyGastrostomy refers to a surgical opening into the stomach. Creation of an artificial external opening into the stomach for nutritional support or gastrointestinal compression....
(also see percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomyPercutaneous endoscopic gastrostomyPercutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is an endoscopic medical procedure in which a tube is passed into a patient's stomach through the abdominal wall, most commonly to provide a means of feeding when oral intake is not adequate. The procedure is an alternative to surgical gastrostomy insertion, and...
) - CholecystostomyCholecystostomyA cholecystostomy is a procedure where a stoma is created in the gallbladder, which can facilitate placement of a tube for drainage....
- Choledochostomy
- Sclerostomy
- ThoracotomyThoracotomyThoracotomy is an incision into the pleural space of the chest. It is performed by a surgeon, and, rarely, by emergency physicians, to gain access to the thoracic organs, most commonly the heart, the lungs, the esophagus or thoracic aorta, or for access to the anterior spine such as is necessary...
- Tracheostomy
- UrostomyUrostomyA urostomy is a stoma for the urinary system. A urostomy is made to avail for urinary diversion in cases where drainage of urine through the bladder and urethra is not possible, e.g...
(also see Ileal conduit urinary diversionIleal conduit urinary diversionAn ileal conduit urinary diversion is a surgical technique usually referred to as the Bricker ileal conduit after its inventor, Eugene M. Bricker...
)- NephrostomyNephrostomyA nephrostomy is an artificial opening created between the kidney and the skin which allows for the urinary diversion directly from the upper part of the urinary system ....
- UreterostomyUreterostomyA ureterostomy is the creation of a stoma for a ureter or kidney.The procedure is performed to divert the flow of urine away from the bladder when the bladder is not functioning or has been removed.Indications may include:...
- Vesicostomy (cystostomy)
- Nephrostomy
External links
- Ostomy Wound Management: online open-access journal featuring articles about wound care, ostomy care, incontinence care and nutrition
- Unwanted Baggage is the ultimate resouce guide for any ostomy patient.
- Diary of a Stoma patient.
- http://www.ostomy.org/
- http://www.phoenixuoaa.org/
- http://www.wocn.org/
- http://www.yodaa.org/
- http://www.ostomy.org/
- http://www.cuiwear.com/
- http://www.stomacarewear.info/