Colostomy procedures can help with managing several conditions, including diverticulitis and colon cancer. There are four main types, each suited to different scenarios. A colostomy is a type of ...

A stoma is an opening in your belly's wall that a surgeon makes in order for waste to leave your body if you can't have a bowel movement through your rectum. You might get one if you have surgery to ...

Brooke ileostomy consists of pulling the end part of the small intestine through a cut in the abdomen to allow the bowels to empty while bypassing the large intestine and the colon. An ileostomy is a ...

You may not know the word for it, but odds are you've seen a stoma bag before. But while these pouches can be lifesavers for people with certain health conditions, there's a lot the general public ...

The stoma can measure from 1 to 1 1/2 inches around. Unlike your anus, the stoma has no sphincter muscle (the muscles that control bowel movements), so most people cannot control the exit of waste.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My friend had a stoma created after years of managing Crohn's disease. She recently had surgery to repair a hernia. What is a stoma, and are these types of hernias common? What is ...