ABSTRACT
Stoma creation is a mental and technical exercise, often straightforward without any
difficulty. However, creation of a protruding, tension free, well-vascularized stoma
in an obese individual with a thick abdominal wall and short, thickened mesentery
can be a substantial challenge. Preoperative planning including stoma site marking,
thoughtful consideration of all alternatives, and attention to technical detail will
help create a stoma that will serve the ostomate well. The technical 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.
KEYWORDS
Colostomy - ileostomy - technical - pseudo-loop stoma - end-loop stoma
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Peter A CataldoM.D.
Department of Surgery, University of Vermont College of Medicine
Fletcher 462, Box # 320FL4, 111 Colchester Ave., Burlington, VT 05401
eMail: peter.cataldo@vtmednet.org
