Stoma (medicine)
![Patient with a colostomy complicated by a large parastomal hernia, which is when tissue protrudes adjacent to the stoma tract.](/Images/godic/202502/13/Colostomy_and_parastomal_hernia0128.JPG")
![CT scan of same patient, showing intestines within the hernia.
Parastomal hernia is the most common late complication of stomata through the abdominal wall, occurring in 10 to 25% of the patients.[1]](/Images/godic/202502/13/Colostomy_and_parastomal_hernia_-_CT0128.png")
In anatomy, a natural stoma is any opening in the body, such as the mouth. Any hollow organ can be manipulated into an artificial stoma as necessary. This includes the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, ileum, colon, pleural cavity, ureters, urinary bladder, and kidney pelvis.