Uh-oh! A Little Guide to Preventing and Managing Ostomy Accidents

When living with an ostomy, occasionally the unthinkable occurs: pouches or barriers trickle, a bag pops open, smells seep through; an endless range of situations all connected with owning an ostomy, waiting to materialize at any time.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. With proper care and planning, you can reduce or eradicate the opportunities of accidents occurring in the first place. And actually if there is a leak, blowout, or odor, a little planning will help make crisis management easy.

Certainly the most common accidents are leaks, blowouts, and odors. Let us summarize these scenarios in short, then we’ll examine some recommendations to best control these frequent predicaments impacting Ostomy surgery patients:

Leaks – A “leak” is when any output of the stoma trickles through the Ostomy appliance. Leaks will certainly form at the place of the very least resistance, and in a lot of circumstances get worse if not taken care of promptly. Common leak points are below the barrier (as a result of poor or compromised adhesive), through pouch closures (2 piece pouches), faulty pouching systems, or by means of punctures (uncommon to go undetected, but can nevertheless happen.)

Blowouts – Blowouts could be a royal pain and occur for a lot of of the exact causes why leaks occur – stuffed pouches (usually from filling up too quickly with gas), inadequately maintained bags, exterior stress on the pouch, and defective appliances. The part that pops wide open, just like leaks, is usually where the least resistance is.

Preventing Leaks and Blowouts

With a few basic actions, both of these types of scenarios can be avoided altogether:

1) Install a Pouch Relief Valve – Valves like the Osto-EZ-Vent can be installed directly onto pouches prior to use to quickly discharge gas buildup in a pouch. This will help the pouch from becoming too full too quickly, cuts back on bathroom breaks to relieve contents, and of course, helps prevent leaks and blowouts from pressure buildup inside.
2) Drain or Change Regularly – Keep an eye on the pouch contents and empty it when it is one-third of the way full. Not really quite there yet? If you have access to a bathroom and you are uncertain when you may again, take care of it. And also make sure you drain before bed to avoid any night time accidents.
3) Pack A Kit – Good kits must contain at least one full replacement and the wipes, products, room sprays and also the clean-up & disposal supplies you need for a complete change. This kit should stay on you if you’re travelling. Hold a fixed kit in the office or at school just in case.
4) Fast Fixes – If a situation develops and you do not have a kit handy for a replacement, you will need to repair the leak the very best you can. Find whatever you can (a paper napkin, paper towel, a band-aid, duct tape) which can be used to seal the leak. It is not an ideal fix, but it may buy you time to get to a restroom or to a private place to take proper care of it.
5) Wear Appropriate Clothes – For the more active individuals, moving a great deal heightens friction against the baseplate and/or bag, possibly triggering skin irritation... or at worst, producing a leak through bonding agents. Sporting loose garments may reduce this situation.
6) Eat Appropriately – Recognize how eating habit has an effect on your ostomy. All meals will digest differently, and this will affect how and when your ostomy bags fill up. For instance, drinking a lot of beer and having a giant supper before bedtime could possibly not be the greatest idea – you actually may find yourself waking up to clear your bag at least once or twice thru the night!
7) Bring a Room Spray – Purchase something powerful enough to reduce the effects of the odor instantly, not merely conceal them. Medi-Aire Odor Eliminator as well as Odor Assassin are both equally great choices to eliminate smells.
8) Devrom Supplements – These tablets are called “Internal Deodorant”, minimizing the odors of pouch contents.

Finally, if you are still having issues with leaks, blowouts, or odors, try modifying your ostomy products. Everybody's stoma is a bit distinct, so finding the correct products is key. Sometimes the Ostomy supplies you have got could possibly not be providing the ideal care.

For instance, flush or retracted stomas (in relation to skin surface), using a common barrier may cause contents to leak beneath the barrier and weaken the bond. Convex barriers, with a little inward bend, could be sufficient to avoid this from occurring. There are some situations where you would prefer to use a drainable pouch and some situations where a more discreet, disposable closed pouch is preferred.

Another example: adhesives are available in distinctive strengths, as well. Leaks could possibly result from an adhesive that basically isn't strong enough to hook up a barrier as long as you want to. The form of your pouch output matters, too; in the event that you have a far more fluid output, it's likely you require a far stronger adhesive to stand up against fluids.

Hence, if you are never pleased with your Ostomy appliances, don't become hesitant to try new products – you will quickly discover what you’ve been missing out on!

For ostomy supplies from Hollister, Coloplast and Convatec as well as other discount home medical supplies, visit STLMedical.com.

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