What is a colostomy?

• A. A surgical removal of the colon.
• B. An opening from the stomach to the outside.
• C. The surgical insertion of a tube into the colon for drainage.
• D. A surgically created opening of the colon out onto the abdomen wall.

Answer: (D)

Colostomy is a surgically created opening of the colon to the outside of the abdomen, forming a stoma through which stool exits into an external bag. This diversion is done when the normal bowel pathway needs to be bypassed or when part of the bowel has to be removed or rested due to disease, injury, or surgery. It’s different from removing the colon entirely (colectomy), from making an opening from the stomach to the outside (gastrostomy), or from inserting a tube into the colon for drainage, none of which create a permanent abdominal wall opening of the colon. The essential idea is redirecting the colon to the skin to allow waste to pass into a bag.