Abstract
Creating an intestinal stoma is commonly the final aspect of an often emergent and
complicated operation under difficult circumstances. While creation of a protruding,
tension-free, and well-vascularized stoma is often straightforward, one must be prepared
for challenging situations such as a thick abdominal wall and short, thickened mesentery.
A successful stoma starts with attentive preoperative planning including site marking,
thoughtful consideration of alternatives, and attention to technical detail. The tips
provided in this article should facilitate the process of selecting the appropriate
intestinal segment, identifying the correct stoma site, and creating a functional
stoma even in the most challenging situations. Constructing a high-quality stoma will
decrease complications and improve the patient's quality of life. Stoma creation is
frequently the only component of an operation that the patient will have to live with
for the remainder of his/her life.
Keywords
ileostomy - colostomy - surgery - stoma - surgical repair
