Ileostomy surgery involves the creation of a stoma that diverts the small intestine away from the removed or rested large intestine. The purpose of this diversion is to allow the stool to leave the body through the stoma.
The surgeon will create the stoma in the belly. The stoma is the end of the small intestine, and it is warm, moist, and pink or red. It doesn’t have any sphincters, which means that you won’t have any control over the stool evacuation. An alternative to an ileostomy is the j-pouch, which is a reservoir that your surgeon builds by folding and suturing the end of the small intestine into itself. Next, the surgeon connects this reservoir to the top of the anal canal. This internal pouch restores your control over stool evacuations to a certain degree.
Depending on the type of surgery, the ileostomy can be permanent or temporary.
- A permanent ileostomy may become crucial when you must undergo the surgical procedure for the removal of the large intestine, rectum, or anus.
- You may need a temporary ileostomy if the part of your colon has been removed, but you retain your rectum.
Your healthcare provider will talk to you about your situation and health condition to determine whether you need a permanent or temporary ileostomy.
Because the stool will have to leave your body earlier during the digestion process when you have an ileostomy, the consistency of your stool will most likely be watery. It will contain an abundance of digestive enzymes, which can be quite corrosive to the skin around the stoma.
You may need an ileostomy for the following reasons.
- Colon cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
- Injury or trauma
- Familial polyposis
Risks associated with an ileostomy
The small bowel resection involved in ileostomy surgery may result in some risks and side effects. Those risks involve:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Damage to nearby organs
- Blood clots
- Scar tissues, which might cause a blockage if the issue is severe
- Obstruction
- Electrolyte deficiency
- Diarrhea
- Skin irritation
- Phantom rectum (a condition referring to the feeling of the need to go to the toilet)
- Short bowel syndrome
Recovery after surgery
The postoperative recovery will depend on the type of surgery you had. The type of surgery also determines the duration of your hospital stay.
During the hospital stay, the nurse will teach you how to care for your stoma. They will give explanations and demonstrations regarding how to empty and change an ileostomy pouch. Before leaving the hospital, you will get detailed instructions on how to care for a stoma at home.
Your medical team will also discuss with you the types of medications you will be taking during the recovery phase. They will discuss possible risks that may occur as a result of the medicine that you must take. If possible, they will coordinate with your physician to discuss alternative medication to avoid complications.
Caring for ileostomy at home
You may be depressed after ileostomy surgery because you have lost one of the major body functions, but the good thing coming out of all this is that ileostomy surgery may have saved your life. The earlier you realize this, the sooner you will be able to adapt to the change.
You have to make sure that you are following all instructions regarding how to care for your stoma. It may seem hard at first, but managing an ileostomy is a lot easier than it what you may have been thinking. It is just a matter of time when it will become your second nature.
In case you experience any problem or complication, you can call or visit your doctor or ostomy care nurse.
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