Brooke ileostomy consists of pulling the end part of the small intestine through a cut in the abdomen to allow the bowels to empty while bypassing the large intestine and the colon.

An ileostomy is a procedure during which a doctor separates the end part of the small intestine, called the ileum, from the large intestine to create an opening in the abdomen, called a stoma, that allows digestive waste to exit the body.

An ileostomy can be temporary or permanent, depending on the reason for the procedure.

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Brooke ileostomy, also known as standard ileostomy, is the most commonTrusted Source type of ileostomy. During this procedure, a surgeon cuts into the abdominal wall to feed through the end part of the small intestine, known as the ileum. Then, they turn the ileum inside out and suture it to the skin of the abdomen, creating a stoma.

The stoma usually looks smooth and round and is positioned in the right lower part of the abdomen. With an ileostomy, a person must wear a pouch to collect fecal waste from their stoma and empty it regularly.

Brooke ileostomy can help treat and provide relief for the symptoms of several conditions, includingTrusted Source:

A surgeon performs this procedure after the individual receives general anesthesia.

The surgery then typically involves the following steps:

  1. The surgeon will create a circular cut into the abdomen with a diameter between 2.5 centimeters (cm) and 3 cmTrusted Source. Then, they will reach the bowels by making a small incision in the subcutaneous fat, fascia, and muscle tissue.
  2. They will then separate the ileum from the cecum, the initial part of the large intestine, pulling the ileum through the passage they have created by cutting through the abdomen. Afterward, they will close the midline incision involving the fascia.
  3. Depending onTrusted Source the reasons for the ileostomy, the surgeon may remove the entirety or portions of the small or large intestines before closing the midline incision.
  4. Finally, the surgeon will turn the end part of the ileum that is now protruding through the abdomen inside out, exposing its inner surface, and apply sutures to secure it to a flat surface on the tummy to create a stoma. This typically looks like a round protrusion that may stick out the abdominal wall by a couple of centimeters.

After they complete the surgical procedure, they will attach an external pouch to the stoma to collect the fecal product of the intestine.

About 20%Trusted Source of people experience complications after the creation of a stoma, and up to 70%Trusted Source of people with a stoma develop complications at some point.

During the first 30 days after surgery, people may experience some complications, includingTrusted Source:

  • stoma bleeding
  • stoma retracting below the skin level
  • separation of the stoma from the abdominal skin
  • death of the stoma tissue due to insufficient blood supply

In the long term, people with a stoma can experienceTrusted Source a combination of skin, stoma, and other health complications. This may include:

  • prolapse of the intestine or retraction of the stoma
  • abdominal hernias, which may sometimes cause a blockage in the intestine or limit its blood supply
  • skin irritation and infection around the stoma due to leaks from the stoma, bacteria, or fungi
  • narrowing of the stoma
  • skin injuries when cleaning and changing pouches
  • dehydration
  • malabsorption of nutrients
  • intestinal obstruction

People may have to stay in the hospital for a few days or weeks after undergoing a Brooke ileostomy, depending on their health conditions. During the recovery, people cannot eat solid foods for a few days to help the bowels adjust to the changes.

Doctors may recommendTrusted Source avoiding certain types of food for a period and consuming smaller meals more often than three larger meals to help the bowels heal.

A nurse will also teach the individual how to take care of the stoma, change and empty the pouch, and keep the skin around the stoma clean and dry to help preventTrusted Source irritation and infections.

Once the stoma is fully healed, people can typically participate in their regular activities and do physical activity — including swimming — if they continue to wear their pouch.

However, a person with an ileostomy should avoid heavy lifting as this can cause complications. If it is necessary for someone to lift heavy objects, they should speak with a doctor to discuss whether it is safe.

A person should contact a doctor if they have an ileostomy and experience any of the following symptoms:

  • have not had a bowel movement for 3 to 6 hours
  • vomiting
  • stoma injury
  • severe skin complications
  • dehydration symptoms, such as:
    • dry mouth and increased thirst
    • loss of appetite
    • weakness or feeling faint
    • muscle cramps
    • decreased urine output
    • dark-colored urine
    • changes in the consistency or frequency of the bowel discharge

People who undergo a loop ileostomy have an internal pouch made with their intestines. This pouch has a catheter permanently connected to allow people to empty it.

A person will need to empty this multiple times a dayTrusted Source while people with an external pouch after undergoing a Brooke ileostomy usually have to empty it once per day.

Learn more about loop ileostomy.

What is the life expectancy of ileostomy patients?

Undergoing an ileostomy does not reduce life expectancy. It may even help people with certain conditions improve their quality of life while improving life expectancy.

What is the Brooke’s technique for stoma?

Brooke’s technique for stomas consists of pulling the ileum through the abdominal wall and suturing it to the skin to create a stoma after turning it inside out.

What are the different types of ileostomy?

Types of ileostomy includeTrusted Source:

  • standard or Brooke ileostomy
  • continent ileostomy
  • ileoanal reservoirs or pelvic pouches:
    • J-pouch
    • W-pouch
    • S-pouch

Each type of ileostomy has a specific function and treats certain types of conditions. However, the most common is the Brooke ileostomy.

Brooke ileostomy is the most common type of ileostomy. It involves pulling the ileum through a cut in the abdomen to create a stoma and allow intestinal waste to exit the body and collect into an external pouch. This procedure can help treat several health conditions, including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and cancer-related conditions.

A person who undergoes Brooke ileostomy needs to wear a pouch connected to the stoma. This is because it is impossible to control the output of the stoma. It is also necessary to empty the pouch regularly to avoid complications, including leakage of fecal product that may lead to skin irritation and infections.