Patient/caregiver was educated on ileostomy as follows:
- An ileostomy is an artificial opening made by your surgeon from the ileum, the terminal portion of your small intestine. The ileum is brought out on to your abdomen, which appears dark pink in color.
- The ileostomy may become necessary in individuals with poorly functioning gastrointestinal system, beyond the ileum.
- Poor function of gastrointestinal system in these individuals could be secondary to them undergoing extensive abdominal surgeries on the large intestine (colon), which is the part of GIT after the small intestine.
- Individuals with birth defects of the large intestine, cancer of the colon, severe inflammation of the colon, surgical removal of the colon, and severe trauma to the abdomen etc., could also be placed on ileostomy.
- The stool is rerouted from the usual path to the ileostomy site on the abdomen, which allows the stool to escape and be collected into a pouch or an ileostomy bag.
- Depending on the individual’s health condition leading to the ileostomy, it can be temporary or long-standing measure, may be permanent.
