Final answer:
The formation of a new opening in the colon is called a colostomy, which is required when the normal passage is obstructed due to conditions like diverticulosis or colorectal cancer. A colonoscopy is a related procedure that can diagnose and treat potential causes requiring a colostomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The formation of a new opening in the colon is called a colostomy. This procedure is performed when the lower part of the large intestine is diseased or damaged, and as a result, feces cannot pass through it normally. In such cases, an alternative pathway for stool to leave the body is necessary. Often, a new fecal pouch can be crafted from the small intestine and sutured to the anus, called an ileostomy, but if that's not an option, a colostomy is created. This involves bringing a segment of the colon through the abdominal wall, so the stool can be collected in a bag-like appliance that adheres to the skin.
Conditions such as diverticulosis, where pouches called diverticula form in the wall of the large intestine, and various bowel diseases like colitis, which is an inflammation of the large intestine, may lead to the need for a colostomy. Additionally, colorectal cancer, signaled by constipation, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding, can necessitate this surgery. A colonoscopy is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure that can identify and remove precancerous polyps in the colon, potentially preventing cancer. Procedures like colostomies and colonoscopies are critical in the management and diagnosis of various colorectal conditions.