ABSTRACT
An intestinal stoma is an artificial opening between a portion of the gastrointestinal tract and the skin surface. An ileostomy is created by bringing the ileum to the skin; a colostomy uses colon. Creation of an intestinal stoma is often but a small part of an extensive operative procedure. It is, however, a part of the operation that the patient will have to deal with on a daily basis and deserves the surgeon’s full attention [1]. Small differences in technique may make the difference between a well-functioning stoma and one that is at best a daily inconvenience for the patient and at worst a source of major morbidity [2].
