What is a diverting colostomy?

A diverting colostomy is a medical procedure in which one end of the large intestine is diverted through an incision made in the abdominal wall. Healthline explains that the incision creates an opening in the skin called a stoma.

The purpose of the surgery is to make an opening in the skin where a removable pouch can be attached to collect feces for easy disposal. A colostomy results from several different surgical procedures performed to correct difficulties with the lower intestinal tract. The colostomy may be temporary or long-term. According to Healthline, conditions that may warrant a permanent colostomy include colorectal cancer, Crohn's disease, diverticulits and ulcerative colitis.