What is an ileostomy?

An ileostomy is defined as a surgically created opening between the ileum, which is the last part of the small intestine, and the abdominal wall. This procedure is typically performed when a part of the digestive tract needs to be bypassed or removed due to disease, injury, or other medical conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease or colorectal cancer. By creating an ileostomy, waste is diverted to an external pouch attached to the abdomen, allowing patients to manage their bodily waste without passing it through the standard route of the intestines. This surgical intervention is crucial for patients who cannot maintain normal bowel function due to various gastrointestinal disorders.

The other options do not accurately describe an ileostomy. The second choice pertains to the drainage of bile, which is related to procedures involving the biliary system, not the intestines. The third option refers to intravenous therapy for medication delivery, which is a completely different medical practice unrelated to surgical openings in the gastrointestinal tract. The fourth choice discusses digestive surgery involving the stomach, which again is not relevant to the definition of an ileostomy, as it specifically involves the small intestine rather than the stomach.