Ileostomies are one of many healthcare procedures that are not commonly discussed. They are not as flashy as open-heart surgery or kidney transplants but they are quite important. The purpose of this article is to educate readers who may need ileostomies and to inform a greater public as to the need for ileostomies in the first place. What is a ileostomy? Ileostomies are sometimes permanent sometimes temporary openings that connect the ileum to an abdominal wall. In some cases, this results in a situation wherein you are given an external pouch that you'll wear and carry with you which collects all of your digested food. It's also possible that those who undergo ileostomies may receive an internal pouch instead of an external one. Ileostomies are performed whenever in situations wherein someone's rectum or colon cannot function properly. The purpose of these organs is to perform vital digestive functions such as reabsorbing fluids and processing waste, so if they are unable to do this it is critical that ileostomies be performed so the body can process food and can more easily live with a number of conditions such as rectal or colon cancer, familial polyposis, Crohn's disease, or inflammatory bowel disease. Preparing for a ileostomy This is an intensive procedure that has long-lasting effects on a number of areas in one's life. Thankfully many people receive training, before and after the ileostomy itself, which helps them make understand the changes this procedure will have on their lives. Many doctors recommend that patients about to undergo a ileostomy be proactive and have conversations with their doctors about a range of major things such as their careers, exercise, and even family planning. This surgery and the impact it has on the body is affected by things like smoking, dietary habits, and even mobility in some people who undergo the procedure. Actually undergoing a ileostomy: When a ileostomy is performed it is done on someone in a hospital under general anesthesia. Surgeons proceed to do one of two things: they may make a cut down a patient's midline, or they could choose to use smaller cuts and lighted instruments to perform a laparoscopic procedure. Laparoscopic procedures are surgical procedures that allow surgeons to access the inside of the abdomen and pelvis without making large incisions in the skin, and they are sometimes called keyhole surgery or more popularly minimally invasive surgery. Patients will know which their surgeons will do prior to the actual surgery. Once the surgeons have done that they may remove someone's rectum and colon, if medically necessary. Unsurprisingly they are different types of ileostomies such as Brooke ileostomies which are the "standard" ileostomies in which patients won't have control of when their fecal waste slides into an external plastic pouch. Another is the Kockileostomy which involves the usage of a part of a patient's small intestine to form an internal pouch partnered with an external stoma. This stoma is used as a sort of valve, connected to a flexible tube and then waste is expelled through it. Readjustment:: Recovery from ileostomies involves readjustment to a number of regular activities such as hiking, swimming, travel, and work. It is possible to do this with training and aid from doctors. Do not be afraid to ask for help from doctors and loved ones.
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