Innovative surgical procedures and stoma care in the future.

Innovative surgical procedures require particular attention to the technical, educational, and emotional issues. Patients need thorough education to understand surgical options, complications, and expected outcomes. Because of the new aspect of these procedures, patients and significant others may feel quite isolated from others. Recognizing behaviors which may indicate this problem and seeking opportunities to provide emotional support and role modeling from other patients are most therapeutic. The quest for continence provides the patient with alternatives to be cured of disease and avoid the need for an external appliance and an abdominal stoma.