An ostomy pouch is a heavy-duty plastic bag with an opening that fits around a stoma. This opening has an adhesive or a plastic locking ring to connect to the skin around the stoma to prevent leaks. After connecting with the abdominal skin, this pouch collects wastes from your stoma. Because the stomal output can irritate the skin and cause several complications, it is necessary to avoid leakage.
The frequency of changing your ostomy pouch will depend on the kind of ostomy pouching system you use. However, the fundamental steps are almost the same. You will learn how long you can keep wearing an ostomy pouch before changing as you become more comfortable with your ostomy care regimen.
Here are the tips to attach an ostomy pouch.
- First off, wash your hands thoroughly. Use soap and then dry your hands thoroughly.
- Placing a two beneath your clothing and under your stoma can help you manage the entire process quite nicely. You may want to lay out all of your supplies to have everything you need at appropriate proximity. You can change your ostomy pouch in front of a mirror to know what you are doing.
- Before applying the ostomy pouch, make sure that the skin around the stoma is clean and dry. Remember, wet skin will not allow the adhesive on the skin barrier to form a seal. At this point, you will also need to check your skin for any signs of irritation.
- You have to determine the type of skin barrier you will be using. It usually takes 6-8 weeks for a stoma to settle into a proper shape and size after surgery. If your stoma is not quite regularly shaped, you will have to measure it using a stoma measuring guide. After that, you will need to cut the skin barrier to match the shape and size of your stoma. You can use a pre-cut skin barrier if your stoma is regularly shaped.
- If your stoma sticks out an inch from your abdominal skin, you can use flat skin barriers. Convex skin barriers are required when your stoma is recessed or flush. These skin barriers have an inward curve to reach the base of a recessed or flush stoma.
- If you are using a one-piece ostomy pouch, all you have to do is to remove the paper backing from the adhesive side of the skin barrier and attach the pouch to the peristomal skin. Make sure to press the skin barrier around the stoma to smooth it evenly.
- A two-piece ostomy pouching system comes with a skin barrier and a pouch as two separable elements. The skin barrier element, also known as a flange, allows the pouch unit to snap on. The primary advantage of using a two-piece ostomy pouch is that you do not have to remove the skin barrier while removing or replacing the pouch.
- After attaching the ostomy pouch, press it on the skin for at least 30 seconds to make it adhere properly. You can cover the flange part with your palms to allow the warmth of your hands to strengthen the seal.
You can discuss with your healthcare provider or a nurse the type of ostomy pouch to use. They will help you select the pouching system that fits your requirements nicely.
