There are many kinds of stoma, and I assume and answer relating to intestinal stoma.
Intestinal stoma may be permanent or temporary. Permanent stoma are, in general, end stoma i.e. there is no more (usable) bowel remaining after the stoma. Such stoma are not planned for reversal, for obvious reasons.
Temporary stoma may have been exteriorised during major surgery to bypass the distal (far) limb of intestine. When the patient has recovered from the initial reason from surgery, temporary stoma can be planned to be closed. Temporary stoma may also be end stoma or loop stoma.
During reversal of stoma, your surgeon will identify the proximal (near) and distal (far) limb of the intestine and perform an anastomosis (surgery to join bowel). The anastomosis is then returned into the abdominal cavity and the abdominal wall closed.
Common risks of such surgery include:
- general anaesthetic risks
- bleeding
- wound infection
- an anastomotic leak or stricture
- intestinal obstruction
- infections such as intra-abdominal, chest or urine
Patients are initially kept nil by mouth or with small amounts of oral fluid intake until their intestines start to “move” and patients are able to pass flatus via the normal route (i.e. through the anus). This typically takes 2-3 days. After which, oral intake is increased and the patient is usually allowed to eat when able to pass motion. Most patients will expect a 4-5 day stay in the hospital post-surgery.
Your bowel movements are unlikely to be normal in the initial phase. They may be more frequent, irregular and watery. However, as normal bowel function returns, your bowel movements will also regularise. Having said this, bowel movements may not return to a pre-surgical state as major surgery performed before will usually have involved resection of a section of bowel.
These are anecdotal accounts based on my experience, and every patient is an individual and different.
