Current Status of Stoma Researches in Korea

ABSTRACT

Stoma operations are one of the most frequently performed operation by the colorectal surgeons. And the consequences of the stoma operation of the patients are well known. However, most colorectal surgeons who performed stoma operation were not aware of the problems that are part of the rehabilitation of the ostomates. In order to elucidate the current status of the stoma studies in Korea, literature reviews were performed by using the Korean medical literature database. Most of the Korean literatures written by the colorectal surgeons are related with the postoperative complications of stoma surgeries. Very few papers are concerned with rehabilitation issues including postoperative adaptation of ostomates, quality of life, and stoma nursing care. Recently, more and more papers concerning the stoma rehabilitation issues were published and the interests in the patient's adjustment to a change in body function are growing. Stoma rehabilitation program should be the part of the nations' welfare program which would be successful with the active participation of the colorectal surgeons, enterostomal therapists and ostomates. We, colorectal surgeons, and the Korean Society of Coloproctology should do the major role in stoma-related researches and cooperate with the enterostomal therapists and ostomates organizations in order to establish and develop the stoma rehabilitation program in Korea.