An enterostomy is the surgical operation to make an opening between the small intestine and the abdominal wall — a stoma through which intestinal contents can drain or feeds can enter. Jejunostomies feed patients whose stomach cannot be used; ileostomies divert the faecal stream after colectomy or to rest diseased bowel. The stoma is a managed opening, not a wound left to chance: specialised nurses fit appliances, protect the surrounding skin from digestive enzymes, and teach patients to live with the change. Nutritionally, the level of the stoma decides everything — a high jejunostomy loses copious fluid and electrolytes and needs aggressive replacement, while an ileostomy mainly demands fluid awareness and B12 monitoring. The operation trades normal anatomy for survival, and modern stoma care makes the trade liveable.