Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWho Might Need an Ileostomy?Types of IleostomyHow to Prepare for an IleostomyWhat Happens During the Procedure?Ileostomy RecoveryIleostomy Risks and ComplicationsLong-Term Outlook
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Who Might Need an Ileostomy?
Types of Ileostomy
How to Prepare for an Ileostomy
What Happens During the Procedure?
Ileostomy Recovery
Ileostomy Risks and Complications
Long-Term Outlook
Ileostomyis surgery that makes an opening in the belly, or abdominal wall, for stool (poop) to leave the body.The end of the small intestine (theileum) is brought through the abdominal wall, which is called astoma. Anappliance(called a bag or a pouch) is worn over the stoma to collect stool.
An ileostomy might be needed when there are problems with the large intestine (colon) or the anus. In some cases, an ileostomy is permanent, and in others, it is temporary.
This article will provide an overview of why an ileostomy might be used, how it is done, what recovery may look like, and the potential complications.
BSIP / Contributor / Getty Images
Ileostomy may be done to treat several types of diseases or conditions, including:
An ileostomy can be permanent,or it might be reversed after the condition for which it was needed has healed. In still another circumstance, the ileostomy is used as a step between other surgeries.
Anileostomy is not a colostomy. With acolostomy, part of the large intestine is used to make the stoma.
Permanent Ileostomy
In a permanent ileostomy, the end of the small intestine is brought through the abdomen to create a stoma. This might also be called an end ileostomy or a Brooke ileostomy.
After food is eaten, it travels down theesophagus, into the stomach, through thesmall intestine, and out of the body through the stoma. It is collected in a bag (sometimes also called a pouch) worn over the stoma. Thestool tends to be looserthan it was before the surgery. The stoma bag is emptied several times a day.
The ileostomy is permanent when there is no plan or ability to reverse it. Thecolon,rectum, and/or anus may have been removed or there may be a plan to remove them in the future. Or, there is no possibility of those areas healing.
Temporary Ileostomy
A temporary ileostomy isreversible. That means the stoma will be removed, and the person will eliminate waste the way they had presurgery.
A temporary ostomy may also be called a diverting ostomy. The stoma is not formed from the end of the small intestine. But rather, thinking of the small intestine like a tube, it is cut almost in half and bent back on itself.
What to Expect After a Colostomy
J-Pouch
A J-pouch is sometimes also called a pelvic pouch.This is not an ileostomy. Instead, the last part of the small intestine is folded back on itself to create a “rectum” for holding stool. It is attached to the anus to allow stool to leave the body through the bottom.
J-pouch surgery is usually done in stages, requiring two or three surgeries. A diverting ileostomy is created during one of the stages to allow for the J-pouch to heal. After a period of weeks or months, the ileostomy is reversed.
K-Pouch
During the K-pouch procedure, an opening is created in the abdomen, which is called a nipple valve. This valve is at the end of the small intestine. A catheter (short tube) is inserted into the valve to open it and allow waste to leave the body. The pouch is emptied several times a day.
Ileostomy will mean staying in the hospital for a few days or more, depending on many factors. It is a major surgery. Recovery time at home (away from work or school) may be about six weeks.
The surgical team and other healthcare providers will help you prepare for the surgery. You may have several appointments before surgery to take care of any presurgical needs and paperwork.
People having planned ileostomy (as opposed to emergency surgery) should meet with an enterostomal therapy nurse (ET nurse). This is a registered nurse who has specialized training in caring for people who live with a stoma.
The ET nurse will help in choosing a spot to place the stoma. This matters because, for instance, putting the stoma where a pants waistband normally hits can make clothing choices difficult. In some cases, there may not be a lot of room for choice, but the ET nurse can help go over what might be best for you and communicating this to the surgeon.
The ET nurse and other healthcare providers will also help teach about and answer questions on caring for an ileostomy. This process will include recommendations about ostomy appliances and where to order them after surgery.
Some people may need to try out various types of supplies from different companies to find the best fit for their stoma and their lifestyle.
What Is an Enterostomal Therapy (ET) Nurse?
You will be admitted to the hospital for ileostomy . The surgery will last several hours.
In some cases, the surgery may be done laparoscopically. Several small incisions are made, and tools are inserted through those incisions to complete the surgery. This may mean a shorter recovery time than an open surgery.
In an open surgery, a longer incision will be made in the abdomen. This might be done in cases in which laparoscopic surgery can’t be used. The surgical team should discuss which type of surgery will be used and why.
After the surgery is over, you may awaken in a recovery area. The stoma on the abdomen will have an appliance over it. There may also besurgical drainsand/or anasogastric (NG) tubein place. Other medical equipment that will aid recovery, such as apain medicine pumpor pneumatic compression cuffs on the legs, may be used.
Healthcare providers will give help and advice on changing the ostomy appliance. It is a learning process. It will take some time to settle on a routine.
Activity levels and eating plans should be gradually expanded over days or weeks. This should be done under the supervision of the healthcare team. You will want to understand when you can resume the following activities:
If the ileostomy is temporary, you will discuss the timing for reversal with the healthcare team.
Having surgery will come with some risks. The surgical team will review these risks during the pre-op appointments and answer any questions. Some general risks of most surgeries include anesthetic complications, bleeding, blood clots, delayed healing, difficulty breathing, infection, injury, or poor results.
Certain complications are specific to ileostomy procedures. Some of the potentialproblems that can occur after getting a stomainclude:
Understanding the Possible Risks and Complications of Surgery
Having an ileostomy is going to be an adjustment. Taking care of the stoma will become part of a routine. Emotionally, some people may need more help in learning how their body now functions.
Ask about mental health support from your healthcare providers. You may want professional support and/or support from others in the ostomy community. Patient advocacy groups offer support groups and peer support. Ostomy suppliers also offer support through helpful written or video guides and in problem-solving with pouching issues.
With many different reasons for receiving an ileostomy, the potential risks and outcomes will differ for everyone. Talk with your healthcare team about what is expected in the long term.
However, people who live with a stoma lead full lives. The ileostomy was placed to treat a condition, and it may provide an opportunity to feel better and to get back to hobbies, travel, work, school, and other activities.
An ileostomy should not smell, and most other people will not know you have one unless you choose to tell them.
People with an ostomy date, have sex, have children,go swimming, travel,run marathons, and do many other physical things. Finding support in the ostomy community can help in learning how to incorporate stoma care into a full life.
Summary
Ileostomy is a surgical procedure in which an opening is made in the abdominal wall for stool to leave the body through a stoma. An appliance is worn over the stoma to collect stool. It may be permanent or temporary.
Ileostomy may be necessary with several health conditions affecting the colon or anus, including colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. It is a major surgery requiring a hospital stay and weeks of recovery at home.
Different pouching systems and solutions for issues such as high-output stomas or peristomal hernias are available. Working with the surgical team and an ET nurse will help ensure the stoma is placed in the best possible location and in caring for peristomal skin.
When adjusting to a new stoma, it’s important to ask questions and get support from your healthcare team and the ostomy community.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.What is an ileostomy?Hollister.Common Reasons for an Ileostomy. [undated]Wolf L, Gfroerer S, Fiegel H, Rolle U.Complications of newborn enterostomies.World J Clin Cases. 2018;6:1101-1110. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v6.i16.1101Lightner AL, Vogel JD, Carmichael JC, et al.The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons clinical practice guidelines for the surgical management of Crohn’s disease.Dis Colon Rectum. 2020;63:1028-1052. doi:10.1097/DCR.0000000000001716Monahan KJ, Bradshaw N, Dolwani S, et al.Guidelines for the management of hereditary colorectal cancer from the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG)/Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI)/United Kingdom Cancer Genetics Group (UKCGG).Gut. 2020;69:411-444. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2019-319915Cohan JN, Ozanne EM, Hofer RK, et al.Ileostomy or ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis: patient participation and decisional needs.BMC Gastroenterol. 2021;21:347. doi:10.1186/s12876-021-01916-0National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Types of ostomy surgery of the bowel.Tsujinaka S, Suzuki H, Miura T, et al.Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ileostomy complications: an updated review.Cureus. 2023;15:e34289. doi:10.7759/cureus.34289Kayal M, Rubin P, Bauer J, Waye JD.The Kock pouch in the 21st century (with videos).Gastrointest Endosc. 2020;92:184-189. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2020.02.031Hollister.Living with an ostomy: sex & parenthood.Hollister.Living with an ostomy: travel.Additional ReadingColoplast.Ostomy information.Convatec.Ostomy Care.Hollister.Quick Educational Tools.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.What is an ileostomy?Hollister.Common Reasons for an Ileostomy. [undated]Wolf L, Gfroerer S, Fiegel H, Rolle U.Complications of newborn enterostomies.World J Clin Cases. 2018;6:1101-1110. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v6.i16.1101Lightner AL, Vogel JD, Carmichael JC, et al.The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons clinical practice guidelines for the surgical management of Crohn’s disease.Dis Colon Rectum. 2020;63:1028-1052. doi:10.1097/DCR.0000000000001716Monahan KJ, Bradshaw N, Dolwani S, et al.Guidelines for the management of hereditary colorectal cancer from the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG)/Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI)/United Kingdom Cancer Genetics Group (UKCGG).Gut. 2020;69:411-444. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2019-319915Cohan JN, Ozanne EM, Hofer RK, et al.Ileostomy or ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis: patient participation and decisional needs.BMC Gastroenterol. 2021;21:347. doi:10.1186/s12876-021-01916-0National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Types of ostomy surgery of the bowel.Tsujinaka S, Suzuki H, Miura T, et al.Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ileostomy complications: an updated review.Cureus. 2023;15:e34289. doi:10.7759/cureus.34289Kayal M, Rubin P, Bauer J, Waye JD.The Kock pouch in the 21st century (with videos).Gastrointest Endosc. 2020;92:184-189. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2020.02.031Hollister.Living with an ostomy: sex & parenthood.Hollister.Living with an ostomy: travel.Additional ReadingColoplast.Ostomy information.Convatec.Ostomy Care.Hollister.Quick Educational Tools.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Cancer Society.What is an ileostomy?Hollister.Common Reasons for an Ileostomy. [undated]Wolf L, Gfroerer S, Fiegel H, Rolle U.Complications of newborn enterostomies.World J Clin Cases. 2018;6:1101-1110. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v6.i16.1101Lightner AL, Vogel JD, Carmichael JC, et al.The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons clinical practice guidelines for the surgical management of Crohn’s disease.Dis Colon Rectum. 2020;63:1028-1052. doi:10.1097/DCR.0000000000001716Monahan KJ, Bradshaw N, Dolwani S, et al.Guidelines for the management of hereditary colorectal cancer from the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG)/Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI)/United Kingdom Cancer Genetics Group (UKCGG).Gut. 2020;69:411-444. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2019-319915Cohan JN, Ozanne EM, Hofer RK, et al.Ileostomy or ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis: patient participation and decisional needs.BMC Gastroenterol. 2021;21:347. doi:10.1186/s12876-021-01916-0National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Types of ostomy surgery of the bowel.Tsujinaka S, Suzuki H, Miura T, et al.Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ileostomy complications: an updated review.Cureus. 2023;15:e34289. doi:10.7759/cureus.34289Kayal M, Rubin P, Bauer J, Waye JD.The Kock pouch in the 21st century (with videos).Gastrointest Endosc. 2020;92:184-189. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2020.02.031Hollister.Living with an ostomy: sex & parenthood.Hollister.Living with an ostomy: travel.
American Cancer Society.What is an ileostomy?
Hollister.Common Reasons for an Ileostomy. [undated]
Wolf L, Gfroerer S, Fiegel H, Rolle U.Complications of newborn enterostomies.World J Clin Cases. 2018;6:1101-1110. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v6.i16.1101
Lightner AL, Vogel JD, Carmichael JC, et al.The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons clinical practice guidelines for the surgical management of Crohn’s disease.Dis Colon Rectum. 2020;63:1028-1052. doi:10.1097/DCR.0000000000001716
Monahan KJ, Bradshaw N, Dolwani S, et al.Guidelines for the management of hereditary colorectal cancer from the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG)/Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI)/United Kingdom Cancer Genetics Group (UKCGG).Gut. 2020;69:411-444. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2019-319915
Cohan JN, Ozanne EM, Hofer RK, et al.Ileostomy or ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis: patient participation and decisional needs.BMC Gastroenterol. 2021;21:347. doi:10.1186/s12876-021-01916-0
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Types of ostomy surgery of the bowel.
Tsujinaka S, Suzuki H, Miura T, et al.Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ileostomy complications: an updated review.Cureus. 2023;15:e34289. doi:10.7759/cureus.34289
Kayal M, Rubin P, Bauer J, Waye JD.The Kock pouch in the 21st century (with videos).Gastrointest Endosc. 2020;92:184-189. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2020.02.031
Hollister.Living with an ostomy: sex & parenthood.
Hollister.Living with an ostomy: travel.
Coloplast.Ostomy information.Convatec.Ostomy Care.Hollister.Quick Educational Tools.
Coloplast.Ostomy information.
Convatec.Ostomy Care.
Hollister.Quick Educational Tools.
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