stoma care

What Is An Ileostomy?

Marlin PellhamLeave a comment

An ileostomy is an opening in the belly to reroute the passage of wastes away from the colon. You may need it if a part of your colon or ileum stops working properly. That may be due to an underlying condition or an injury. Sometimes, the surgeon may find out that removing the colon is the only way to save your life or end a chronic condition. That surgical procedure usually ends up in an ileostomy.

An ileostomy can be permanent or temporary, depending on the underlying condition. If it is a temporary ileostomy, you will have to live with it for a few weeks to a few months. While having a permanent ileostomy, you have to live with an ostomy bag on your front for the rest of your life.

Before surgery, an ostomy nurse will mark the site of the stoma. He or she will work with your surgeon throughout the process.

A stoma is a part of the intestine sticking out on your belly. Its mucous membrane makes it look pretty much like the inside of the mouth. A stoma is generally red or pink. It secretes a small amount of mucus the entire time. After surgery, a stoma has a lot of swelling, which subsides over time. it generally takes six weeks for a stoma to settle to permanent shape and size.

A stoma doesn’t have any sphincter muscles, meaning that you won’t have any control over when to move your bowels. There are also no nerve endings in the stoma. That means the stoma itself is not a source of any pain.

During ileostomy surgery, the colon, also known as the large intestine, is removed. Sometimes, the rectum remains intact. In severe cases, the surgeon may remove the rectum as well.

What does an ileostomy do?

Fecal wastes do not pass out through the anus after your surgeon removes or rests the colon and rectum. All those wastes will now leave your body through the stoma. You will have to wear an ostomy bag over the stoma to manage those stool evacuations.

Fecal materials passing out of an ileostomy are usually liquid to pasty. That, however, largely depends on what you eat. Your medications and other lifestyle choices also play a significant role in this regard.

Caring for an ileostomy

An ileostomy produces liquid or pasty stools that are loaded with digestive enzymes, salts, and electrolytes. These unused nutrients and minerals can be highly corrosive to the abdominal skin. That is why it is quite crucial to make sure that no stomal output comes in contact with the abdominal skin. For that, you will have to ensure a tighter seal between the ostomy pouch and the peristomal skin. The side of the ostomy pouch’s skin barrier that goes against the abdominal skin is laden with a strong adhesive. That allows for a securer attachment of the ostomy pouch over the stoma.

While attaching the ostomy pouch, make sure that there are no creases in the skin barrier that could allow for the seepage of the stomal output. You can learn how to attach an ostomy pouch from an ostomy care nurse.

How To Deal With Ostomy Pouch Leaks

Marlin PellhamLeave a comment

Leakage is the biggest reason people hate ostomies. Reducing the instances of ostomy leakage takes the trial-and-error approach. After surgery, the size and shape of the stoma change a lot before settling to a permanent form.

If you want to reduce leakages, the best approach is to look for the root cause. In many cases, pancaking is the culprit causing those leaks. In several cases, stool gets under the skin barrier, compromising the seal between the ostomy pouch and the peristomal skin.

You can brainstorm to find the most appropriate solution for your leakage problem. You can also ask other people with ostomies to know what helped them fix their problems.

First off, you have to make sure that you are using the correct wafer for your stoma and body. If your wafer is not right for your body type, you will experience leakage. For instance, if your stoma seems sunk inside the abdominal skin, you will not benefit from a flat skin barrier. You can use a convex wafer to push your skin gently. It will allow the stoma to protrude a bit, reducing the chances of leakage. Remember, which wafer suits you best depends entirely on your body type. What works for you may not do the same for another person with an ostomy.

After choosing the correct type of wafer, you have to make sure that its opening fits your stoma nicely. If you are using a cut-to-fit skin barrier, you have to make sure that it allows an active stoma. If the water is too tight around the stoma, the stool will get under it and compromise the seal. A too-small opening of the skin barrier can strangle the stoma, causing several other severe issues. A too-large opening, on the other hand, will result in the skin around the stoma getting exposed to the stomal output. It can lead to skin irritation. If your stoma is regular-shaped, you can use a pre-cut wafer, which comes with a premade opening. You can choose from different sizes of pre-cut skin barriers, depending on the size and shape of your stoma.

Another way to prevent leaks is to take care of your peristomal skin. Peristomal skin, with its integrity taken care of, allows for a better seal. Healthy peristomal skin looks the same as any other part of the skin on the abdomen. If you experience leakage, it is best to take care of it immediately. It will allow you to keep your peristomal skin in good health. It also includes emptying or changing your ostomy pouch before it overfills. A heavy ostomy pouch can pull the skin barrier, causing it to develop gaps that can allow the stomal output to leak through.

Make sure to be gentle when peeling your wafer. Ripping the wafer off the peristomal skin quickly can be detrimental to your skin integrity. If your wafer has a strong adhesive, use adhesive remover while removing the ostomy appliance. It will help retain your skin’s integrity and will help prevent leakage in the long term.