Parastomal Hernia

A stoma (colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy) is a man made hole in the abdominal wall where a portion of large intestine or small intestine is brought through, and stool goes into a bag attached to the abdominal wall.  These can be temporary, where there is a possibility to reconnect the intestine, and sometimes they are permanent and therefore not reversible.  Sometimes, something else like fat or another piece of intestine makes its way through that hole between the fascial or strength layer of the abdominal wall and the intestine that is supposed to come through.

If you think you may have a parastomal hernia, seek an evaluation by a medical professional and/or surgeon.  It usually will present like a hernia where there could be pain or a bulge or both.  Some people may have difficulty keeping their ostomy appliance attached to their abdominal wall because it is no longer flat and it bulges out.  

There are open repairs as well as laparoscopic and robotic laparoscopic repairs, and they depend on several factors.  The option of each surgery could depend on if your ostomy is reversible, your past surgical history, your past complication history if there is one, and the status of your overall health among others.  Sometimes surgery requires moving the stoma to another location on your abdomen.  You should be evaluated by a medical professional and/or surgeon if you think you have a parastomal hernia.