By Goranka Paula Bak, BSN, RN, ET, CWOCN

Before discharge, a new ostomy patient and caregiver have a lot to learn, including how to empty the pouch, establish a schedule for pouch changes, measure the stoma to ensure protection from effluent, and use accessory supplies appropriately.

Emptying the pouch

Teach your patient or the caregiver to empty the pouch when it is 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 full. Explain that too much weight can pull the pouch off the skin, allowing leakage. Also, emptying is easier if the pouch isn’t full. Either the patient or the caregiver must be able to empty the pouch before discharge.
Explain that pouches today are odor-proof, so rinsing shouldn’t be necessary. If the patient insists on rinsing, advise him to instill water into the lower portion of the pouch, avoiding the barrier. Getting water on the barrier and stoma will break down the barrier and may cause a fungal rash on the peristomal skin. Patients who want to rinse should use a two-piece pouching system.

Establishing a schedule for pouch changes

Routinely, drainable pouches and urostomy appliances are changed every 3 to 5 days, but depending on your patient’s output, abdominal contours, and ability to change the pouch, changes may take place as often as daily or as infrequently as weekly. If your patient has a close-ended pouch, explain that it needs to be disposed of when it’s half full.
If the patient experiences itching or burning under the barrier or notices or suspects leakage, he should change the pouch p.r.n. Tell the patient not to tape the edge of a barrier to stop a leak because the effluent will quickly cause skin breakdown. Instead, the patient should remove the entire pouching system and assess for leakage.
Teach the patient to determine a barrier’s wear time by examining the back of it. If the barrier has broken down, he’ll see a color change. If leakage resulted from a break down on the barrier’s edge, the patient should decrease the interval between pouch changes. If there’s no color change, the barrier has more wear time.
To determine a regular time of day for pouch changes, have the patient determine when the stoma usually is inactive. For many patients, the best time is before breakfast.

Measuring the stoma

Explain that for 6 weeks after surgery, the patient must measure the stoma weekly because bowel swelling decreases during this time. After 6 weeks, the patient can measure the stoma monthly, unless body weight fluctuates or an inflammation causes stoma swelling.
To keep the peristomal skin protected from effluent, show the patient how to use a stoma measuring guide or ostomy sizer. If the stoma is oval, demonstrate how to measure its length and width. Mark your measurements on the back of the barrier or a separate piece of paper. Then, connect the lines to form an oval and cut to size. Make adjustments, if needed.

Using accessory supplies

Teach the patient to keep pouch changes simple and use accessory products only when needed.
Explain that routine use of adhesive remover, skin prep, or skin sealant may decrease the ability of the pouch to adhere. Tell the patient to read the manufacturer’s instructions to determine if an accessory supply is recommended.
If peristomal skin is intact, the patient shouldn’t use ostomy powder. Tell the patient to use it sparingly on weepy, denuded skin to help dry and prepare the area for the barrier application. After dusting the reddened area, the patient must brush off the excess powder to make sure the barrier will stick.
Show the patient how to use ostomy paste, such as caulk, to fill in and level out uneven peristomal skin (dips, scars, skinfolds) and prevent leakage. Explain that the patient should apply it sparingly and not use it like glue. Make sure the patient knows that some ostomy pastes contain alcohol and may sting denuded skin.
If your patient has an ileostomy or colostomy, explain that pouches with integrated charcoal filters help disperse gas slowly. A patient with excessive gas may use an additional external filter, such as Osto EZ Vent, which creates a hole to expel gas and has a cap to cover the hole.

View: Emptying a pouch

View: Other ostomy instruction

Goranka Paula Bak is an Ostomy Sales Territory Manager for Coloplast Corporation.