DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My friend had a stoma created after years of managing Crohn's disease. She recently had surgery to repair a hernia. What is a stoma, and are these types of hernias common? What is ...

A stoma is an opening from an area inside your body to the outside, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. (Photo: Getty Images) You may not know the word for it, but odds are you've seen ...

Ileostomy and colostomy are two types of surgery in which a small piece of the intestine is brought through the abdomen. An ...

An ileostomy can be permanent or temporary. There are three major types: standard ileostomy, continent ileostomy, and ileoanal reservoir. An ileostomy is a surgical procedure in which the contents of ...

Urostomy and colostomy bags are used in two different types of ostomies. Also called stomas, these are surgical openings meant to create alternatives for waste to leave your body. A urostomy bag is ...

Several urostomy pouch systems are available, each with unique features and benefits. One-piece and two-piece urostomy bags are the most common, but drainable and closed-end pouches are also available ...

If your ulcerative colitis (UC) hasn’t responded well enough to treatment, your doctor may suggest surgery and an ostomy pouch. This might sound intimidating. But for people with certain birth defects ...