what is a barrel surgery

A barrel surgery is a type of ostomy surgery that creates an opening called a stoma in the abdomen to allow waste to leave the body when the digestive system is not functioning properly. There are different types of barrel surgeries, including double-barrel colostomy and double-barrel transverse colostomy, which involve dividing the bowel into two parts, each with a separate opening. In a double-barrel ostomy, the surgeon removes the problem areas in the bowel and brings the two ends of the bowel to openings made in the wall of the belly. They stitch the edges of the bowel to the skin to create two stomas. One stoma drains waste and the other drains mucus. A bag may be placed over both stomas to collect the waste and mucus, or a bag may go over the stoma that drains waste, with gauze covering the other stoma. The procedure is done under general anesthesia.