Types of enterostomy, stoma care

1. Big picture

An enterostomy/stoma is a surgically created opening of bowel onto the abdominal wall to allow intestinal contents to exit into an external appliance, to divert, decompress, protect an anastomosis, or occasionally provide enteral feeding. In surgery exams, this topic is not only about naming stomas; it is about knowing why the stoma is made, what type is appropriate, how to construct it safely, how to care for it, and how to recognize dangerous complications.

The examiner usually wants:

What bowel segment?
→ Why is it needed?
→ Temporary or permanent?
→ End or loop?
→ What is normal output?
→ What complications must not be missed?

A s