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What is the difference between a stoma and a colostomy?
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A stoma is an opening created in the body to bypass a portion of the digestive system. It is usually created surgically, but can also be created as a result of disease or injury. A colostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an artificial opening from the colon to the abdominal wall. This allows waste to leave the body through the abdominal wall instead of through the rectum.