enterostomy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal/Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “enterostomy” mean?
A surgical operation creating an opening from the small intestine to the abdominal surface.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A surgical operation creating an opening from the small intestine to the abdominal surface.
A surgically created artificial opening (stoma) through the abdominal wall into the small intestine, typically for feeding or drainage purposes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or usage differences. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent. The procedural details and medical coding may vary by healthcare system.
Connotations
Purely medical/clinical term in both varieties. No additional cultural connotations.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialised in both varieties, used exclusively in medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “enterostomy” in a Sentence
The surgeon performed an enterostomy [on the patient].An enterostomy was created [for feeding].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “enterostomy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team decided to enterostomise the patient to bypass the obstruction.
- The surgeon is enterostomising.
American English
- The surgical plan is to enterostomize the jejunum.
- They enterostomized the patient yesterday.
adverb
British English
- The feeding was administered enterostomally.
- The contrast was introduced enterostomally.
American English
- Nutrition was delivered enterostomically.
- The dye was injected enterostomically.
adjective
British English
- The enterostomy procedure took two hours.
- Enterostomy care is provided by the stoma nurse.
American English
- The enterostomy site showed signs of infection.
- An enterostomy tube was placed for feeding.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical and surgical research papers, textbooks, and case studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would only be used by a patient or carer discussing a specific medical condition.
Technical
Core term in surgery, gastroenterology, and stoma care nursing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “enterostomy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “enterostomy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “enterostomy”
- Misspelling as 'enterostom*y*' (incorrect vowel).
- Confusing it with 'colostomy'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to enterostomy a patient' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An enterostomy is an opening into the small intestine, while a colostomy is an opening into the large intestine (colon).
It can be either temporary or permanent, depending on the underlying medical condition. A temporary enterostomy may be reversed in a later operation.
An ileostomy is a specific type of enterostomy where the opening is made into the ileum, the final section of the small intestine. 'Enterostomy' is a broader term.
It is performed by a qualified surgeon, often a gastrointestinal or general surgeon.
A surgical operation creating an opening from the small intestine to the abdominal surface.
Enterostomy is usually formal/technical/medical in register.
Enterostomy: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɛntəˈrɒstəmi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɛntəˈrɑːstəmi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ENTER (intestine) + O (opening) + STOMY (surgical creation of an opening). It's an opening into the intestine.
Conceptual Metaphor
The intestine is a tube; an enterostomy is an artificially created side-door in that tube leading to the outside of the body.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of an enterostomy?