Learn All Things Ostomate with Our Ostomy Infographic
What is an Ostomy? – Health and Care's Guide to Helping You Understand
An ostomy is a surgical procedure to re-route the bowel or bladder to the wall of the abdomen.
There are three types of ostomy:
- Colostomy: large intestine – temporary or permanent
- Ileostomy: small intestine – temporary or permanent
- Urostomy: the bladder – permanent not reversible
When an ostomy procedure happens a stoma is put in place.
What is a Stoma?
A stoma is the opening created in ostomy surgery. It takes the form of a small, painless mound. Not all stomas are permanent procedures.
Some Famous Ostomates Include:
- Dwight Eisenhower
- Napoleon Bonaparte
Common Misconceptions – the facts about having a stoma
- Stomas don't stop you from swimming
- Stomas don't stop you from having sex
- Your stoma should be completely painless
- Modern ostomy bags rarely smell outside of changing
Estimates suggest 13,500 people undergo stoma surgery in the UK each year.
There are a total of around 120,000 ostomates in the UK.
The Global Demographic Breakdown
The global gender split for ostomy patients is:
- 55% male
- 45% female
Age of patients:
- 2% 18-29
- 5% 30-39
- 12% 40-49
- 21% 50-59
- 33% 60-69
- 27% 70+
The global split between the three types of ostomy:
- 14% Urostomy
- 42% Ileostomy
- 44% Colostomy