Definitions of Ostomy Related Terms

Abdominal pouch:  An artificial internal bowel reservoir with a nipple valve. Also known as a Kock pouch.

Anus: The external opening of the rectum, where solid waste exits the body.

Ascending colon:  The portion of the colon connecting to the cecum, or first part of the large intestine.

Ascending Colostomy: This is a colostomy in which the ascending colon is brought to the abdomen surface. The stoma is usually located in the right abdomen.

Biological therapy:  Treatment for cancer using an agent that stimulates the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells.

Bowel blockage:  An obstruction of the bowel where the products of digestion are stopped from continuing through the intestines.  The peristaltic motion of the intestine continues and caused great pain.

Chemotherapy:  Treatment for cancer using anticancer drugs. This is a systemic treatment for cancer, meaning that it affects cells and tissues throughout the body and not just in the cancerous area.

Colon: The large intestine. It is primarily responsible for the body’s absorption of fluid and electrolytes, storage of food wastes, and transport of the stool.

Colonoscopy:  A “colonoscope” is inserted through the anus to remove small malignant growths.

Colostomy:  A surgically created opening in the abdomen to provide an alternate way for food wastes to leave the body. In a colostomy, a portion of the large intestine (the colon) is brought to the surface of the abdomen.

Colostomy bag:  A appliance attached to the outside of the abdomen wall to trap the waste when it leaves the body.

Continent ileostomy: An ileostomy with the creation of an internal reservoir in the abdomen.

Continent urinary reservoir: A urinary reservoir made from a segment of bowel after bladder removal. It includes a valve to retain urine.

Crohn’s disease: A disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, especially the small intestine. The resulting swelling can cause pain, diarrhea, and even blockage.

Descending colon: The last portion of the large intestine, before the anus.

Descending colostomy: Also known as a sigmoid colostomy, this is a colostomy in which the sigmoid or descending colon is brought to the abdomen surface. It is the most common type of colostomy. The stoma is usually located in the lower left abdomen.

Diverticulitis: A disorder that causes inflammation of the diverticula, which are part of the large intestine wall.

Duodenum: The first part of the small intestine, where the small intestine connects to the stomach.

ET nurse: Enterostomal therapy nurse. This is a nurse specially trained in the care of people who have stomas.

External radiation therapy: Radiation therapy applied from an external source.

Familial polyposis: An inherited condition in which hundreds of polyps form in the colon and rectum, which can obstructthe bowel

Fistula formation: A complication of Crohn’s disease, in which ulcers penetrate the intestinal wall, creating “tunnels” between the intestines and other body tissues. Fistulas give intestinal bacteria access to other parts of the body, which can cause serious infections.

Hirschsprung’s disease: A birth defect in which the nerves in the bowel wall are missing from the anal region up the bowel for a variable distance. These nerves normally assist the bowel’s movement of stool. As a result, the bowel suffers massive enlargement above the area of missing nerves.

High output Ileostomy: A ileostomy that puts out more than 1000cc in a 24hr period.

Ileo-anal reservoir: Internal reservoir placed in the pelvis. Also known as a pelvic pouch, a J-pouch, W-pouch, S-pouch, etc., depending on the shape of the surgically-created internal reservoir.

Ileostomy: A surgically created opening in the abdomen to provide an alternate way for food wastes to leave the body. In an ileostomy, the end of the small intestine (the ileum) is brought to the surface of the abdomen.

Ileostomy enema:  Small bowel irrigation of the stoma with water.

Ileum: The lowest part of the small intestine, where the small and large intestines connect.

Imperforate anus:  A birth defect where the rectum is not connected to the anus. As a result, the bowel has no outlet from the body.

Indiana Pouch: An artificial internal bowel reservoir. The ileocecal valve, normally located between the small and large intestines, is relocated to this reservoir to prevent leakage. It eliminates the need for a pouching system.

Internal radiation therapy: Radiation therapy applied using radioactive material placed directly in or near the tumor.

Intraoperative radiation therapy:  Radiation therapy performed during surgery.

Intubate:  To insert a special tube into the reservoir via the continent stoma.

Irrigation System: A system used to clean stool out of the colon through the stoma. Irrigation can prevent the need to wear a pouch.

J-pouch: An artificial internal bowel reservoir created after removal of the entire colon. The reservoir is connected to the anus, anal muscles are preserved, and stool can be evacuated via the normal route. Also known as the pelvic pouch.

Kock pouch: an artificial internal bowel reservoir with a nipple valve. Also known as an abdominal pouch. It eliminates the need for a pouching system.

Laparoscopy: A thin, lighted tube called a laparoscope is inserted through small cuts in the abdomen, allowing the surgeon to see inside the body. The tumor and a portion of healthy colon are removed.

Large intestine: The last part of the digestive system, also known as the colon. The large intestine functions to remove liquids from body waste material, store wastes, and transport solid wastes to the anus for removal from the body.

Loop Colostomy: This is a colostomy in which the transverse colon is brought to the abdomen surface. It has two openings, one of which discharges stool and the other mucus.

Monoclonal antibody: Identical antibodies from a single “parent” immune cell. These antibodies are trained to recognize a particular cell surface and can target specific cell types. They are sometimes used in cancer treatment.

M9:  A liquid deodorizer that is put inside the pouch when empty to remove the odor as the bag fills up.Neobladder a urinary reservoir made out of bowel after bladder removal. This allows the patient to void normally.

One-Piece Pouching System: A pouching system in which the skin barrier and pouch are joined together, so that both must be changed at the same time.

Open surgery: The surgeon makes a large abdominal cut through which to remove the tumor and visually examine the intestine for signs that the cancer has spread.

Ostomy: Is the surgical procedure used to create the stoma, a surgically-created opening in the abdomen for the body’s discharge of waste.

Ostomy Clothing: Clothing that the Ostomate can wear feeling confident that their bag is hidden.

Pelvic pouch: An artificial internal bowel reservoir created after removal of the entire colon. The reservoir is connected to the anus, anal muscles are preserved, and stool can be evacuated via the normal route. Also known as the J-pouch.

Peritoneum: The lining of the abdomen. It encloses the abdominal organs.

Peritonitis:  Inflammation of the peritoneum.

Permanent Colostomy: Removal of part of the colon, usually including the rectum. The end of the remaining colon is brought to the surface of the abdomen.

Pouching system: The apparatus used to connect a pouch to the stoma to collect waste material.

Pouchitis: Inflammation of an internal reservoir.

Proctocolectomy Surgery: Removing the colon and rectum.

Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells in a targeted area of the colon or rectum.

Rectum: Last several inches of the large intestine, ending at the anus

Sigmoid Colostomy: Also known as a descending colostomy, this is a colostomy in which the sigmoid or descending colon is brought to the abdomen surface. It is the most common type of colostomy. The stoma is usually located in the lower left abdomen.

Small intestine: A portion of the digestive system that connects the stomach and the large intestine. Its function is to continue food digestion and absorb nutrients.

Small intestine perforation: A hole in the intestine wall where fecal matter can escape from the bowel to the body cavity.

Spina bifida:  A birth defect of the spinal column that leaves part of the spinal cord unprotected. This can result in bowel and/or bladder incontinence.

Squamous cells: This is one of the cell types that line the bladder wall. Less than ten percent of bladder cancers begin in squamous cells.

Stage A cancer’s:  Stage describes how far the disease has advanced. It is based on information such as whether the tumor has invaded nearby tissues and whether the cancer has spread from its original location.

Stoma: A surgically-created opening in the abdomen for the body’s discharge of waste.

Temporary colostomy: This procedure temporarily bypasses the lower portion of the colon to allow it to rest or heal. It can later be reversed to restore the normal path of food waste through the body.

Transitional cells: This is one of the cell types that line the bladder wall. Most bladder cancers begin in transitional cells.

Transverse colon: The midsection of the large intestine, connecting the ascending colon and descending colon.

Two-Piece Pouching System: A pouching system in which the pouch is separate from the skin barrier, allowing the pouch to be changed while the skin barrier remains in place.

Ulcerative colitis:  A disease that causes inflammation and sores to form in the lining of the colon and rectum. In severe cases, the colon may need to be removed and ostomy surgery performed.

Urinary Pouching Systems:  One- or two-piece pouching systems similar to those used for colostomies and ileostomies, but with a spout or valve that allows attachment to a leg bag.

Urostomy: An opening in the abdominal wall surgically created as an alternate way for urine to leave the body.

Wound ostomy continence nurse: A nurse specially trained in ostomy care.