Colostomy Bag: What is it, Care & Day-to-day Life | Ada
What is a colostomy bag?A colostomy bag, also called a stoma bag or ostomy bag, is a small, waterproof pouch used to collect waste from the body.During a surgical procedure known as a colostomy, an opening called a stoma or ostomy is formed between the large intestine (colon) and the abdominal wall. This allows waste products to be excreted through the opening in the abdominal wall rather than via the colon through the rectum and anus. Stools and other waste products are drainable into the pouch-like colostomy bag, which can then be emptied at regular intervals.This procedure is carried out in the treatment of conditions involving damage to the colon or large intestine, such as:Ulcerative colitisCrohn’s diseaseDiverticulitisColorectal cancerThe colostomy bag is placed over the new opening that has been created in the abdominal wall in order to collect stool and other waste from the body. 1A colostomy bag, therefore, is a fairly simple device intended to rest the patient’s colon in the...