Introduction: A stoma is a surgically performed opening in the abdominal wall that is an alternate route by which waste products are excreted from the body. A stoma can be temporary or permanent. The main purpose and task of the stoma is the excretion of harmful substances in the form of feces from the body, and gases that are created as a byproduct of digestion. The stoma is often performed as a way of preventing cancer progression. About four thousand patients with a stoma live in the Republic of Croatia (there is no register) and most of them did not know exactly what it represents ahead of osteotomy and became aware only when they faced it. In addition to physical change, patients with stoma also experience changes in mental well-being and reduced quality of life. Method: The study was conducted among 67 patients with colostomy or ileostomy, who stayed at the Department of General and Oncological Surgery oft he Clinical Hospital Center „Sisters of Mercy“ in the period from April to June 2020. Patients completed an anonymous questionnaire on quality of life after stoma formation. The results were interpreted at a significance level of <0.05. Results: Analysis of the data showed that there is no statistically significant difference in the quality of life of patients with colostomy and ileostomy depending on age and sex. Subjects with a formed colostomy in the age group of 40 to 60 years are not satisfied with the quality of life, but do not feel that their quality of life is completely impaired after the formation of the stoma. Subjects with formed ileostomy are not completely satisfied with the quality of life and believe that it is impaired after the formation of the stoma. In the age group over 60 years, subjects with colostomy are generally satisfied with their quality of life and feel that it is not impaired while those with ileostomy are not satisfied with their quality of life, but are not sure whether it is completely impaired or not. Subjects of both sexes with colostomy are not sure whether they are generally satisfied with their quality of life and feel that their quality of life has not been impaired, while subjects with ileostomy believe that they are generally not satisfied with their quality of life. Female subjects with ileostomy feel that their quality of life is impaired while male subjects are not sure whether their quality is impaired or not. Conclusion: Formation of a stoma of any kind is an extremely large change in physical, mental, emotional part of life for each patient. If the patient is not aware in advance of the possibility of such a treatment outcome (emergency surgery), such a change is even more significant. Quality of life is affected by the ability and manner of eating, activities and the ability to engage in it, sex life, performing normal daily activities, community and belonging to the community.