What does the term "ostomy" refer to?

The term "ostomy" refers to a surgical procedure that creates an opening (stoma) in the body, which provides an alternate route for wastes to exit. This procedure is commonly performed when a part of the digestive or urinary tract needs to be bypassed due to disease, injury, or other medical conditions. For instance, a colostomy involves bringing a portion of the colon to the surface of the abdomen, allowing waste to exit the body into a bag rather than through the rectum.

This definition is crucial for understanding various medical contexts and patient care, particularly in settings involving rehabilitation or chronic illness management. The other choices misrepresent different medical terms and processes, such as hemodialysis, which is specifically about blood filtration, high blood sugar relating to diabetes management, and urinary system disorders, which encompass a distinct set of conditions not directly linked to the concept of an ostomy.