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Beverly Hills · 435 N. Bedford Dr., Suite 308Mon–Fri 9:00 am – 5:00 pmMost PPO insurance accepted
Allen KamravaMD · MBA · FACS · FASCRS

Procedure

Colostomy Creation / Reversal

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4-6 weeks
Success rate
Greater than 95% (Creation)
Recurrence
N/A

What it is

What is a Colostomy?

A colostomy is a surgically created opening (stoma) of the colon onto the surface of the abdomen to divert stool. A colostomy creation may be temporary or permanent. It is performed for various reasons, including obstruction, perforation, infection, or to protect a downstream anastomosis. The procedure can be done as a loop (bringing a loop of colon to the skin) or an end (bringing the end of the colon to the skin). Colostomy reversal, or takedown, is a subsequent procedure to restore the continuity of the colon by re-connecting the two ends of the bowel and closing the stoma site.

Am I a candidate?

Who is a Good Candidate for These Procedures?

Colostomy creation is indicated for patients with obstructing or perforating cancers, severe diverticulitis with abscess or perforation (Hartmann's procedure), trauma, or to protect a high-risk anastomosis. A permanent colostomy is necessary for patients undergoing an abdominoperineal resection for very low rectal or anal cancers. Colostomy reversal is ideal for patients who have recovered from their initial surgery, are in good nutritional status, and have healed sufficiently from any primary disease process. The distal bowel must be confirmed to be healthy and patent prior to reversal.

Recovery

What is the Recovery Like?

For colostomy creation, recovery involves a hospital stay of 3-7 days. Patients are taught how to care for their new stoma by an ostomy nurse. Most people return to normal activities within 4-6 weeks. For colostomy reversal, the hospital stay is typically 3-5 days. It may take several weeks for bowel function to regulate. Patients are advised to start with a low-residue diet and advance slowly. Full recovery can take 4-6 weeks.

Risks & considerations

What are the Risks?

Risks for colostomy creation include stoma-related complications such as retraction, prolapse, parastomal hernia, stenosis, and skin irritation. There are also general surgical risks like bleeding and infection. For colostomy reversal, the primary risk is an anastomotic leak, which can lead to a serious intra-abdominal infection. Other risks include surgical site infection, incisional hernia at the old stoma site, and bowel obstruction from adhesions.

Sources

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