There are over 100,000 ostomy surgeries performed in the US annually. These fecal and urinary ostomies aim at eliminating stool and urine from the body. Ostomies can be temporary or permanent and continent or incontinent. Most of the ostomies are incontinent, which require a patient to wear an external ostomy bag.
In this article, we are going to talk about the use of ostomy bags and peristomal skin complications.
Stoma
A stoma is the opening of the diversion that is created as a result of ostomy surgery. It is the point through which the stool or urine leaves the body.
A normal, healthy stoma is pink or red, shiny, nonulcerated, moist, and painless to touch. You will see swelling in the stoma right after surgery, but that shouldn’t be a cause of concern. The shape of the stoma will change every week, and it will settle down to a permanent form and size six weeks after surgery.
The protrusion of the stoma varies from person to person due to several reasons. Ideally, a stoma should be at least 2 cm above the level of the skin surface for an ileostomy or urostomy, and 1 cm for the colostomy. People who are obese or ones with shortened intestinal lengths may find it hard to achieve these heights.
Stomas with insufficient protrusions are generally flush stomas or retracted stomas. Flush stomas level with the abdominal surface, while retracted stomas are below that level. Both these types make it difficult for a patient to ensure effective stoma care.
Prolapsed stomas, on the other hand, are overly protruded stomas that seem visually alarming. Prolapsing happens with a segment of the bowel hangs out due to weak or strained abdominal muscles, obesity, pregnancy, increased intra-abdominal pressure, and surgical techniques that cause the stoma to prolapse. Because these stomas do not cause the peristomal skin to sink into the abdomen, these shouldn’t stop you from ensuring effective Ostomy Care.
Peristomal skin complications
The most common complication in the peristomal skin area is irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), which occurs as a result of contact of liquid waste with the skin. This contact occurs when there is a leakage under the skin barrier due to improper fitting of the ostomy pouch. This condition can lead to the loss of epidermal tissue and pain. The skin becomes moister, meaning that it becomes more incapable of supporting the ostomy pouch, and this vicious cycle continues until you do something about it.
It is crucial to take care of your peristomal skin. Before applying the skin barrier, make sure that the peristomal skin is clean and dry. Use plain water to clean this part of the skin. If you must rinse it using soap, use one that is free of oils, perfumes, and other chemicals.
Stay in touch with your ostomy care nurse to learn the best practices to care for your ostomy and peristomal skin.
Comments