rhizoverbBeta
DictionarycolostomySurgical opening
noun

colostomy

kuh-LAH-stuh-mee/kəˈlɑːstəmi/

Surgical creation of an outlet from the colon through the abdomen.

A colostomy allows waste to leave the colon through the abdomen.

A close abdominal view with a restrained anatomical cutaway shows the large intestine continuing directly to a small, healed stoma on the abdominal surface.
Etymology
coloGreeklarge intestine
+stomyGreekmouth, opening

Greek stoma could mean a mouth or any outlet. Combined with the word for the large intestine, it describes the surgically created outlet from the colon through the abdomen.

In context

MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics56:05
tried to find a way to reopen the bowel bypass it give them a colostomy something to allow them to eat again
Atul Gawande "Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End"

More examples

  • The surgeon recommends a temporary colostomy while the bowel heals.
  • The nurse explains how to care for the skin around the colostomy.
  • Some colostomies are permanent, while others can be reversed.

Forms

colostomy · colostomies

Similar words

ostomy
A broader term for a surgically created outlet from an organ.
stoma
Names the opening itself, not the operation that creates it.