INTESTINAL OSTOMY: PROGRESS IN CLINICAL MANAGEMENT AND PATIENT-FOCUSED OUTCOMES

Intestinal ostomy is a surgical technique that involves the formation of a stoma on the abdominal wall to divert fecal stream, mainly indicated for conditions like colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and trauma.Although life-saving, ostomy surgery has important physical, psychological, and social consequences.This review summarizes existing evidence regarding ostomy development, types, complications, and changing management.A systematic literature review was performed to assess multidisciplinary care, surgical advances, appliance technology, and new digital health technologies.Major findings emphasize that early patient education, accurate stoma placement, correct appliance fitting, and psychosocial support significantly enhances outcomes.Recent technological advancements in appliance design, stoma construction methods, and telehealth have helped lower rates of complications such as parastomal hernia and dehydration.The review also examines disparities in access and suggests scalable models for fair care.Through the identification of present challenges and future directions, this article hopes to give clinicians an evidence-informed guide to optimize ostomy care and improve longterm patient quality of life.