What is the medical term for a procedure that creates an opening for waste elimination?

The medical term "ostomy" refers to a surgical procedure that involves creating an opening from an area inside the body to the outside. This procedure is specifically designed for waste elimination, such as in cases where part of the digestive or urinary system needs to be bypassed due to disease or injury. For example, a colostomy creates an opening for waste to exit the body from the colon.

The focus of an ostomy is to provide a channel for waste to exit when normal pathways are not functioning properly, often resulting from conditions such as cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. This distinction underscores the importance of the procedure in managing waste elimination effectively and maintaining the patient's health.

In contrast, gastrectomy refers to the surgical removal of part or all of the stomach, intubation is the insertion of a tube into the airway to help with breathing, and incision is a general term for a cut made during surgery. None of these terms appropriately describe the creation of an opening specifically meant for waste elimination.