ileostomy is a surgical procedure in which the small intestine is attached to the abdominal wall in order to bypass the large

intestine; digestive waste then exits the body through an artificial opening called a stoma (from the Greek word for "mouth"). Read more: http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Fi-La/Ileostomy.html#ixzz2IDbClTKF Loop stomas can also be created in either the large or small intestine by bringing a loop of intestine to the abdominal wall. The portion above the skin's surface is made into two stomas one opening releases the stool, while the other releases mucus. Occasionally, a rod will be placed underneath the loop of the intestine to support the stoma on the skin's surface. This rod should only be removed under the guidance of a physician In the standard loop ileostomy, the surgeon cuts a few inches of connective tissue between the folds of the small intestine and pulls the freed tube through an incision in the skin of the lower abdomen, creating a folded, "loop-like" protrusion. Next, a small plastic support rod is inserted under the loop to prevent the protruding intestine from slipping back into the body. Once the loop is secured, the surgeon makes a cut in the wall of the intestine, causing it to open into two separate holes or "stoma." One stoma leads into the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract and has a catheter bag attached to it for collecting fecal waste. The second stoma leads into the large intestine and is mainly used to expel excess mucous from the bowels. Note: even though the wall gets cut, the intestine is not completely separated. Rather, part of the wall is left intact, allowing for easier closing of the ileostomy in future operations. Read more: Types of Loop Ileostomy | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_5847779_typesloop-ileostomy.html#ixzz2IDshqeoL