Having Discharge And Loose Stools After Colostomy. What Is The Cause?

Posted on Tue, 12 Nov 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 12 Nov 2013 Answered on

Thu, 5 Dec 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : I had a colostomy on 8-5-12. I had a fistula with a tear from the vagina to my rectum I was told. Nothing was done about the vagina, only a colostomy. I have had some discharge on occasion. Have had some discharge for the past two days and now more today and passed what looked like maybe some feces. I did this twice and they were about the size of a kidney bean. I was having some loose stools at the time from the colostomy. Can you explain this to me?

Answered by Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: due to spill over of contents in colostomy loop Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for your query. I presume undivided loop colostomy was done for you which is the standard surgical procedure. Undivided loop colostomy is done by greeting out a loop if colon through abdominal wall and making a opening in it . It decompresses the colon and helps in passing stools from colostomy site and nothing goes distally. So no stools come out rectally. Sometimes there may be spill over of contents from colostomy loop into distal loop which get passed from rectum. It especially occurs during diarrhea. Also colon secretes mucous and other secretions in non functioning side of colon,which get hardened and may be passed out as stools. I hope I have answered your query. Take care Regards Dr Deepak Kishore Consultant Surgeon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T