TAKING CARE OF A COLOSTOMY

What Does Colostomy Care Require?

How to replace, empty, or cleanse your pouch system, is referred to as colostomy care. When you leave the hospital, you and your caregivers will be trained on how to manage your colostomy.

What’s The Best Way To Empty The Pouch?

• Carefully clean your hands. Put on your surgical gloves.
• When changing the system, empty the bag when it is ⅓ to ½ filled.
• Don’t wait until the bag is full before removing it. This may increase the pressure on the sealing, causing it to leakage or spill.
• Take the bag by the bottom end and lift it up. Remove the clip from the bag if it has one. To protect the end from being dirty, you may have to roll back.
• Remove the bag and drain it. To avoid splash back, put toilet tissue in the toilet before emptying the bag. Squeeze the contents of the bag into the toilet to empty.
• Clean the pouch’s opening. Use a wet towel or toilet tissue. Clean the bag if required, although it is not required. Keep the pouch’s opening clean.
• Carefully close the bag. Unroll it. As instructed, change the clamp or shut the pouch’s end.

Altering the Pouch System

The sort of pouch system you have will determine how you alter it. Your healthcare practitioner will provide you with detailed information on how to make the necessary changes to your system. The below is some general advice on how to alter it:

• Inquire about how frequently your pouch system should be changed. The time you can wear your system depends on the sort of system you have. Certain pouch systems can last for three to seven days. Most can last up to three months and require more regular pouch changes.
  
  For a one-piece system, follow these steps:
  

• Extract the pouch. When extracting the bag, be sure it’s empty. By one hand, gently press the skin downward and away from the adhesive skin barrier to release the bag. Pull the bag up and away from the stoma with another hand.
• Clean the skin surrounding your stoma carefully. Utilize water and mild soap. Soaps containing oil or fragrances should be avoided. Protect your skin with a towel.
• Utilize a bag with the appropriate opening size. Use a bag with a hole that is ⅛ inches bigger than your stoma. It’s possible to trim the hole to fit around your stoma. Bowel movement might spill onto your skin and create discomfort if the hole is too wide.
• To assist prevent irritation, utilize skin barrier solutions. These items can assist prevent and keep your skin drier.
• Insert your bag with gentle pressure. On clean, dry skin, center the bag over the stoma and push it gently into position. Holding your palm over the new bag for 30 seconds may be beneficial. The heat of your palm can assist in the bonding of the adhesive skin barrier.
• Properly remove the used bag. Put the old bag in some other trash container and dispose of it in the garbage if the bag is reusable. If you’re using a recyclable bag, discuss how to wash it with your healthcare practitioner.
• Remove your gloves and thoroughly wash your hands.
  
  For two-piece systems, follow these steps:
  
  • Remove the bag as well as the faceplate. When extracting the bag, be sure it’s empty. With one hand, press gently the skin downward and far from the adhesive skin barrier to release the faceplate.
  • Clean the skin surrounding your stoma carefully. Utilize water and mild soap. Soaps containing oil or fragrances should be avoided. Dry your skin with a towel.
  • Utilize a faceplate with the correct opening size. The aperture should be ⅛ inches bigger than your stoma. It’s possible that you may have to trim the hole to fit over your stoma. Bowel movement might spill onto your skin and create discomfort if the hole is too wide.
  • To assist prevent irritation, utilize skin barrier solutions. These items can assist prevent and keep your skin drier.
  • Insert your faceplate with gentle pressure. The opening in the faceplate should be centered above the stoma. On clean, dry skin, push it gently into position. Holding your palm above the new faceplate for 30 seconds may be beneficial. The heat of your palm can assist in the bonding of the adhesive skin barrier.
  • Properly remove the used bag. Put the old bag in some other plastic bag and put it in the garbage if the bag is reusable.
  • Remove your gloves and thoroughly wash your hands.