What is the main purpose of a loop ileostomy?

The main purpose of a loop ileostomy is to defunction a segment of the colon. This involves creating a temporary stoma from the ileum, which diverts intestinal contents away from a portion of the colon that may be diseased, inflamed, or at risk of injury. By doing so, it allows the affected segment of the colon to rest and heal. This procedure is particularly useful in situations such as inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, or following certain surgical procedures where bowel continuity is compromised.

Creating a loop ileostomy serves to protect the distal bowel while preventing fecal flow through the area that requires care or further investigation. It is commonly employed in surgical management plans, particularly when there is a need to temporarily divert stool away from a surgical site or a diseased bowel section.

The other options, while relevant to various areas of gastrointestinal management, do not correctly describe the primary objective of a loop ileostomy. Feeding support typically refers to nutritional interventions rather than bowel diversion. Decompression of the stomach deals more with issues of gastric distension rather than colon function. Diagnostic evaluation signifies procedures that assess the condition of the bowel rather than providing a functional diversion. Thus, the correct answer encapsulates the essence of how loop ileost