Thousands of people of all ages get ostomies every year in the US. An ostomy undoubtedly brings with it a whole set of challenges for a person who just underwent ostomy surgery, but it is nothing less challenging for ostomy care nurses. If you are an ostomy care nurse, you may have the idea of how hard it can get to teach someone to regain their independence after ostomy surgery. In this article, we are going to talk about the ways you can be successful at teaching your patients to be independent. Reviewing stoma types There are three types of stoma: end stoma, loop stoma, and double-barrel stoma. Based on the health condition and other factors, the surgeon decides about the type of stoma. The most common type of stoma is the end stoma. The surgeon creates this stoma by resecting the intestine and pulling its end out through a small incision in the abdominal wall. After pulling out this end, the surgeon turns this end into itself – pretty much like cuffing a sock – and sutures it to the abdominal skin. The surgeon creates a loop stoma when the patient requires a temporary ostomy. The procedure to create this type of stoma involves the making of an incision in the abdomen through which the surgeon pulls a loop of intestine. Next, he places a rod under the loop to prevent it from slipping back into the abdomen. He then cuts the upper side of the loop and sutures the edges of that cut to the abdominal wall. The double-barrel stoma is not common in adults. This entire stoma consists of two stomas: one to evacuate stool and the other to evacuate mucus. The patient doesn’t have to use two skin barriers to manage this stoma. Choosing the right pouching system With the availability of a wide range of options related to ostomy supplies, it might get hard for an ostomy patient to pick the right type. It makes it crucial for an ostomy nurse to have accurate knowledge about the appropriate ostomy supplies for each type of stomas. For instance, a person with an ileostomy is going to require a drainable ostomy pouch rather than a closed one. Similarly, each of the different types of ostomy barriers is suitable for a particular type of peristomal skin. An ostomy nurse needs to have good knowledge about which types of ostomies can benefit from a two-piece pouching system and which can benefit from a one-piece system. Enlightening your patients with the right information can help them regain their ability to live the way they want. Managing complications
Most of the ostomy-related complications appear on the peristomal skin. A nurse must know about the complications that can occur in the peristomal skin. It will help them reach the right solution. Most of those complications occur as a result of poor adhesion between the skin barrier and the peristomal skin. Another reason could be the surgical technique that results in a scar in the peristomal skin area. Knowing the types of infections and how to deal with them can help an ostomy care nurse to have peace of mind most of the time.
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Darron Guffey
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