What are ostomy bags used for?

• A. Waste disposal in a sealed container.
• B. Waste collection.
• C. Filtering blood during dialysis.
• D. Transplanting tissue.

Answer: (B)

Waste collection from a surgically diverted opening (stoma) outside the abdomen is what ostomy bags are for. When part of the bowel or urinary tract is redirected to the abdominal surface, a pouch worn over the stoma captures the waste (stool or urine). This setup keeps waste contained, helps control odor, and protects the skin around the stoma. There are different types of bags for stool or urine, and they are emptied, cleaned, and replaced regularly as part of daily ostomy care. They aren’t used for filtering blood, transplanting tissue, or general waste disposal in a sealed container.