A colostomy is a procedure in which the surgeon brings part of the colon out through an opening in the abdominal wall so that stool passes into a pouch attached to the skin instead of travelling through the rectum and anus. The opening itself is called a stoma: moist pink mucosal tissue that has no pain endings like skin, so touching or cleaning it does not hurt, while the surrounding skin is what needs protecting. It is used for several reasons: to protect a fresh bowel join while it heals, to divert stool away from an inflamed, infected, obstructed or irradiated area, after removal of the rectum, or in emergency obstruction or perforation where joining the bowel would be unsafe. It is **temporary in many cases and permanent in some**, and that distinction is explained before surgery rather than after; it is worth asking about directly, because it completely changes what a patient should expect. Living well with a stoma depends on two practical things. First, its position, which is marked before surgery so the stoma is visible to the patient and away from the waist crease, the belt line, scars and bone. Second, training in emptying the pouch, changing the baseplate and protecting the surrounding skin. A stoma care nurse is a core part of treatment rather than an optional extra, and most day-to-day problems — leakage and skin irritation — are solved by adjusting the aperture size and the type of baseplate, not by tolerating them. Limits and misconceptions deserve correcting. A colostomy does not treat the disease that made it necessary; it only diverts the path of stool, while the underlying disease is managed by its own plan. Nor is it the end of a normal life: **most people return to work, travel, sport, prayer and marital life**, and the genuine restrictions are few, such as heavy lifting in the early weeks and some contact sports. Odour is not inevitable either, since modern pouches are sealed and filtered, and smell mainly occurs at the moment of emptying. If the stoma is temporary, reversal is a separate operation with its own conditions and timing, not performed before the tissues have healed and the join has been assessed. The type, site and expected duration of the stoma are determined by clinical examination and by the nature of the disease and the original operation, and all of this is explained and consented to before surgery.
Procedure steps
- 1
The decision and marking the stoma site
The reason for the stoma, whether it is temporary or permanent, and what to expect are explained to you. The site is then marked on the abdomen with you sitting, standing and lying, away from the waist crease, belt line, scars and bone, and where you can see it yourself, since a poorly chosen site is a leading cause of leakage.
- 2
Anaesthesia and access
The operation is done under general anaesthesia, laparoscopically through small ports or through an open incision, and is often part of a larger operation such as a resection or a repair. Thrombosis prophylaxis is arranged and a prophylactic antibiotic is given before the incision.
- 3
Bringing out the colon and forming the stoma
The appropriate segment of colon is mobilised and brought through a sized opening in the abdominal wall without tension or kinking that would compromise its blood supply, then sutured to the skin as a loop or an end according to the purpose. Its colour and blood flow are checked.
- 4
Fitting the first pouch and assessment
The circumference of the stoma is measured and the baseplate cut precisely to size to protect the skin, then the first pouch is applied. The stoma is watched during the first hours: its colour, the normal early swelling, and the first passage of wind and then stool, which signal that the bowel is working after anaesthesia.
- 5
Training, follow-up and reversal planning
With a stoma nurse you learn emptying, changing, skin care and measuring the aperture, along with where to obtain supplies and how insurance covers them. Follow-up appointments are set to adjust sizing and deal with any leakage or irritation, and if the stoma is temporary, the timing of reversal is assessed according to tissue healing and investigations.
Before the procedure
Tell your doctor about all your medicines, especially blood thinners, steroids and diabetes drugs, and about your chronic conditions, previous operations and any adhesive or drug allergy. Ask explicitly for the stoma site to be marked before surgery and to take part in choosing it: tell the team about your work, where your belt sits, your usual clothing, how you sit, pray and exercise. These details are not trivial; they determine your daily comfort for years. Ask whether the stoma is temporary or permanent and, if temporary, what conditions must be met before reversal. Ask about pouch supplies: which type, where they are bought in Jordan, how long a box lasts and whether your insurance covers them. Request a meeting with a stoma nurse before the operation if possible, since learning the basics in advance shortens the adjustment period considerably. Stop smoking, follow the fasting instructions and any bowel preparation requested, and arrange an escort and a hospital stay.
After the procedure
Empty the pouch when it is about one third full rather than waiting longer, and change the baseplate at the interval you were taught, not only when it leaks. Measure the baseplate aperture against the stoma precisely during the first weeks, because its size changes as swelling settles: too wide damages the skin and too tight constricts the stoma. Keep the surrounding skin clean and dry using water only, and avoid oily soaps and creams that prevent adhesion. Drink enough water, reintroduce foods gradually and chew well, noting which foods increase wind or odour for you personally. Avoid heavy lifting for about six weeks to reduce the risk of a hernia around the stoma, and ask about a support belt if your work is physical. **Seek care immediately if stool and wind stop passing and you have pain, distension and vomiting; if the stoma turns dark, black or pale; if it bleeds without stopping; if it suddenly protrudes markedly or retracts inwards; if the surrounding skin becomes widely ulcerated or leakage cannot be controlled; if you develop fever; or if profuse output is accompanied by dizziness and reduced urine.**
Expected duration
Forming the stoma alone usually takes 45 minutes to about an hour and a half, longer when it is part of a larger operation; the hospital stay depends on that operation and on stoma care training.
Our directory of Colostomy doctors in Jordan is growing
There are no matching published profiles in this directory yet. ClinicsJo is expanding its coverage and working to welcome more Colostomy doctors in Jordan. Check this page regularly for newly added profiles, practice details and available contact options.
Browse all doctorsBrowse Colorectal Surgery profilesFinding Colostomy services in Jordan
Which doctors are listed for Colostomy in Jordan?
There are currently no doctor profiles linked to Colostomy in this directory. You can browse the related specialty or the wider doctors directory. This does not mean that the service is unavailable in Jordan.
How can I find an appointment for Colostomy?
Start with an available doctor's profile and use the contact or booking options shown there. Confirm the service, practice location and appointment time with the clinic. If this list is empty, broaden your search using the directory links on this page.
What does Colostomy cost in Jordan?
Ask the practice for the current price and what it includes. A consultation fee shown on a profile is not necessarily the price of a procedure, tests or follow-up. Confirm any additional charges and insurance arrangements before your visit.