An enterostomy (''
entero-'' + ''
-stomy''; ) is either (1) a
surgical procedure to create a durable opening (called a
stoma
In botany, a stoma (from Greek ''στόμα'', "mouth", plural "stomata"), also called a stomate (plural "stomates"), is a pore found in the epidermis of leaves, stems, and other organs, that controls the rate of gas exchange. The pore is bo ...
) through the
abdominal wall
In anatomy, the abdominal wall represents the boundaries of the abdominal cavity. The abdominal wall is split into the anterolateral and posterior walls.
There is a common set of layers covering and forming all the walls: the deepest being the v ...
into an intestine (
small intestine
The small intestine or small bowel is an organ in the gastrointestinal tract where most of the absorption of nutrients from food takes place. It lies between the stomach and large intestine, and receives bile and pancreatic juice through t ...
or
large intestine
The large intestine, also known as the large bowel, is the last part of the gastrointestinal tract and of the digestive system in tetrapods. Water is absorbed here and the remaining waste material is stored in the rectum as feces before being r ...
) or (2) the stoma thus created. The various types of enterostomy are named according to which intestinal segment is involved.
Indications for surgery and complications are dependent on the site of the enterostomy.
Gastrostomies and enterostomies can be used to provide nutrition in digestive disorders.
Hernia development at both permanent and temporary enterostomy sites in a common complication.
See also
*
Gastrostomy
Gastrostomy is the creation of an artificial external opening into the stomach for nutritional support or gastric decompression.
Typically this would include an incision in the patient's epigastrium as part of a formal operation. It can be perform ...
References
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Medical procedures