colostomy

[ kuh-los-tuh-mee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Surgery.

, plural co·los·to·mies.

the construction of an artificial opening from the colon through the abdominal wall, thus bypassing a diseased portion of the lower intestine and permitting the passage of intestinal contents.
the opening so constructed.

colostomy

/ kəˈlɒstəmɪ /

the surgical formation of an opening from the colon onto the surface of the body, which functions as an anus

colostomy

/ kə-lŏs′tə-mē /

Surgical construction of an opening from the colon through the abdominal wall to the outside of the body for the purpose of excretion.

First recorded in 1885–90; colo- + -stomy

And, thanks to a host of women posting photos of themselves with their colostomy bags, the condition is shedding its stigma.

After a life-saving colostomy was performed, Castro was deeply distraught.

But Castro nixed having a colostomy, perhaps out of pride, machismo, or hubris—or some combination of the three.

He would not listen to anyone because he could not bear the idea of it [the external colostomy bag].

April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

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