A technique for isolation of ileostomy drainage during abdominal operations.

An abdominal operation performed upon a patient with an existing ileostomy carries an increased risk of postoperative infection due to the escape of ileal effluent from the stoma during the course of the operation. The bacteriologic sample of this effluent has been shown to contain high cocentrations of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria qualitatively similar to that of the microflora of the colon. A nontraumatic technique for effective isolation of the effluent using Foley catheter occlusion between the balloon and the fascial ring has been devised.