What is a likely characteristic of stool from a transverse colostomy?

A transverse colostomy involves the diversion of stool through an opening created in the transverse (middle) section of the colon. The stool produced in this part of the digestive system tends to be semi-formed because, by the time it reaches the transverse colon, it has undergone partial processing by the intestines. It retains some moisture, making it more liquid than stools formed in the descending or sigmoid colon, where stools tend to be harder and more fully formed due to more water absorption.

The semi-formed nature is a result of both the timing of the bowel movement and the degree of water absorption that occurs in the large intestine. Compared to other types of colostomies, such as descending or sigmoid colostomies which produce well-formed stools, or an ileostomy which produces more liquid outputs, the output from a transverse colostomy reflects a balance that usually results in a consistency that is soft, shaped but not completely formed.

Therefore, the characteristic of semi-formed stools aligns correctly with the type of stool typically expected from a transverse colostomy.