What procedure is employed to remove feces and flatus from the bowel through a colostomy?

The removal of feces and flatus from the bowel through a colostomy is specifically achieved through colostomy irrigation. This procedure involves the introduction of a sterile solution into the colostomy stoma and allows for the clearing of bowel contents to promote regular bowel movements. It is often used for patients who have had a colostomy established and wish to manage their output more effectively or to achieve bowel control.

Colostomy irrigation can help schedule bowel emptying, which can be beneficial for the patient’s lifestyle and comfort, allowing for more predictable results and reducing accidents. This is particularly important for maintaining hygiene and quality of life for individuals living with a colostomy.

While stoma care, lavage, and fecal management are related concepts, they address different aspects of colostomy care or bowel management. Stoma care focuses on the hygiene and maintenance of the stoma site, lavage generally refers to washing out an area (which may not specifically target colostomy management), and fecal management entails various methods of managing feces, but it does not specifically refer to the process of irrigation for a colostomy.