An ostomy is the surgical connection of a segment of the digestive tract to the skin outside its natural location , via a catheter or by a direct junction.
An ostomy can be created to provide adequate nutrition, to decompress or drain the digestive tract, or to protect an anastomosis by transiently diverting the intestinal flow.
According to the digestive segment connected to the skin, a distinction is made between gastrostomy (ostomy of the stomach), jejunostomy (ostomy of the jejunum), ileostomy (ostomy of the ileum), and colostomy (ostomy of the colon).
Gastrostomy
Gastrostomy is made with the help of a catheter connecting the stomach to the skin. It replaces the nasogastric tube order to provide undernourished people with long-term artificial nutrition, to artificially feed those who are medically unable to do so (for example in cases of ENT cancer or swallowing disorders) or to decompress the stomach in case of an obstruction.
Gastrostomy is usually performed by the gastroenterology team (FR) during a gastroscopy , but may be performed by the surgeon in special cases.
Jejunostomy
Jejunostomy can be an alternative to gastrectomy . It is performed during a surgical operation, to provide artificial nutrition if oral feeding not possible in the short-term.
L’iléostomie et la colostomie
Ileostomy and colostomy have different functions. They are used to divert the digestive content, either in case of a downstream obstruction of the digestive tract, or to protect an anastomosis , temporarily or permanently. They are performed surgically by laparoscopy or by laparotomy .
More information can be found here : Advice for people with colostomies (FR)