US Medical Term · procedures
Colostomy
Colostomía
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Colostomy |
| Spanish (Español) | Colostomía |
| Chinese (中文) | 結腸造口術 |
| Korean (한국어) | 결장루 조성술 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Phẫu thuật hậu môn nhân tạo |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Colostomy |
| Portuguese (Português) | Colostomia |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การผ่าตัดเปิดทางออกลำไส้ใหญ่ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 結腸ストーマ造設術 |
What it means
A colostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an opening in the abdominal wall (called a stoma) through which a portion of the colon is brought out. Waste passes through the stoma into a pouching system worn outside the body. It is performed when a section of the colon must be removed or bypassed due to colorectal cancer, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, injury, or obstruction. A colostomy may be temporary, allowing the bowel to rest and heal, or permanent. Surgery is done under general anesthesia. Recovery involves learning stoma care, including how to change the pouch, prevent skin irritation, and manage diet. A wound ostomy continence nurse (WOCN) helps patients adapt to life with a stoma.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My surgeon says I will need a colostomy after the colon surgery to remove the cancer.
Mi cirujano dice que necesitaré una colostomía después de la cirugía de colon para extirpar el cáncer.
Will the colostomy be temporary or permanent?
¿La colostomía será temporal o permanente?
Who can teach me how to care for the stoma after I go home?
¿Quién puede enseñarme a cuidar el estoma después de que regrese a casa?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026