Articles » Ileostomy, Colostomy, and Ileoanal Reservoir Surgery: NIDDK

Ileostomy, Colostomy, and Ileoanal Reservoir Surgery: NIDDK

Article title: Ileostomy, Colostomy, and Ileoanal Reservoir Surgery: NIDDK

Conditions: Colostomy, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, familial adenomatous polyposis, ileostomy

Source: NIDDK

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Sometimes treatment for Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and familial adenomatous polyposis involves removing all or part of the intestines. When the intestines are removed, the body needs a new way for stool to leave the body, so the surgeon creates an opening in the abdomen for stool to pass through. The surgery to create the new opening is called ostomy. The opening is called a stoma.

Different types of ostomy are performed depending on how much and what part of the intestines are removed. The surgeries are called ileostomy, colostomy, and ileoanal reservoir surgery. When the colon and rectum are removed, the surgeon performs an ileostomy to attach the bottom of the small intestine (ileum) to the stoma. When the rectum is removed, the surgeon performs a colostomy to attach the colon to the stoma. A temporary colostomy may be performed when part of the colon has been removed and the rest of the colon needs to heal.

Ileoanal reservoir surgery is an alternative to a permanent ileostomy. It is completed in two surgeries. In the first surgery, the colon and rectum are removed and a temporary ileostomy is done. In the second surgery, the ileostomy is closed and part of the small intestine is used to create an internal pouch to hold stool. This pouch is attached to the anus. The muscle of the rectum is left in place, so the stool in the pouch does not leak out of the anus. People who have this surgery are able to control their bowel movements.

More information is available from the following organizations:

International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
P.O. Box 17864
Milwaukee, WI 53217
Phone: (414) 964-1799 or 1-888-964-2001
Email: iffgd@iffgd.org
Internet: http://www.iffgd.org/

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America Inc.
386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10016-8804
Phone: 1-800-932-2423 or (212) 685-3440
Email: info@ccfa.org
Internet: http://www.ccfa.org/

United Ostomy Association, Inc.
19772 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 200
Irvine, CA 92612-2405
Phone: 1-800-826-0826 or (949) 660-8624
Email: info@uoa.org
Internet: http://www.uoa.org/

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Additional Information on Ileostomy, Colostomy, and Ileoanal Reservoir Surgery

The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse collects resource information on digestive diseases for the Combined Health Information Database (CHID). CHID is a database produced by health-related agencies of the Federal Government. This database provides titles, abstracts, and availability information for health information and health education resources.

To provide you with the most up-to-date resources, information specialists at the clearinghouse created an automatic CHID search. To obtain this information you may view the results of the automatic search on Ileostomy, Colostomy, and Ileoanal Reservoir Surgery.

Or, if you wish to perform your own search of the database, you may access the CHID Online web site and search CHID yourself.

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National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse

2 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3570
Email: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/tools/mail_nddic.htm

The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1980, the clearinghouse provides information about digestive diseases to people with digestive disorders and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. NDDIC answers inquiries; develops and distributes publications; and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about digestive diseases.

Publications produced by the clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts.

This e-text is not copyrighted. The clearinghouse encourages users of this e-pub to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired.

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NIH Publication No. 99-4641

Updated: February 2001

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