About this topic
An enterostomy is a kind of surgery. The doctor makes an opening that connects the inside of the belly to the outside of the body. The opening is called a stoma. Some openings let you get rid of the bodys waste products. If the opening is coming from the small intestine, it is called an ileostomy or jejunostomy. Other kinds are colostomy, urostomy, and vesicostomy. Other openings may be made to give you nutrition. An opening made right into the stomach is a gastrostomy. Your enterostomy may be short-term or long-lasting. ‚
This procedure is done when: ‚
- Your body cannot get rid of waste materials the normal way
- You need some other way for food to get into your body
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work or driving
- Be sure to wash your hand before and after touching your wound or dressing.
- Do not take laxatives. Ask your doctor before taking any drugs.
- If you have a bag over your stoma:
- Your doctor or nurse will teach you how to care for your stoma and how to change the bag.
- Empty the bag when it is 1/3 to 1/2 full. This will help to prevent leaks and spills.
- Change the bag every 3 to 5 days or as your doctor tells you.
- Clean the skin around the stoma properly. Dry the skin thoroughly.
- Apply a skin barrier paste to the area around the stoma.
- If you are not happy with your bag, ask your ostomy nurse about other options.
- If you have a feeding tube:
- Your doctor will teach you how to care for your feeding tube and how to do tube feedings.
- Keep the tube site clean and dry.
- Always check the tube site for signs of infection like redness, pain, swelling, drainage, or pus.
- Always flush the tube after each feeding. Ask your doctor how to flush it.
- Do not pull the tube. Ask your doctor what to do if the tube comes out.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
- Talk with your doctor about any concerns you have adjusting to your stoma.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent infection
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity for a while. Talk with your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- Talk to the doctor about what kinds of foods are OK for you to eat. You may need to be on a special diet if you have a feeding tube. Your doctor may refer you to a nutritionist.
- If you have an ostomy bag, you may need to avoid foods that cause odor or gas. Some foods that cause gas and odor are beans, onions, broccoli, and cabbage. Try new foods one at a time so you can pick out the foods that may cause you problems.
What problems could happen?
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Skin irritation around the stoma
- Loose stools
- Bowel obstruction
- Hernia at the site where the surgery is done
- Tube is blocked, leaks, or falls out
- Low mood
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain or numbness, redness and pus at the wound site.
- Very bad belly pain
- Change in skin color of the stoma
- Very hard stools
- Swelling or bloated feeling of the belly
- Black, tarry, or bloody stools
- No stool or urine coming out
- Urine is cloudy, bloody, or foul smelling
- Feeding tube comes out or stops working
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you how I will take care of my stoma.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a rash or sores around my stoma.
Where can I learn more?
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons ‚
http://www.fascrs.org/patients/treatments_and_screenings/ostomy/ ‚
Canadian Association for Enterostomal Therapy ‚
http://www.caet.ca/caet-english/education-colostomy-guide.htm ‚
Paediatrics & Child Health ‚
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2724142/ ‚
The International Ostomy Association ‚
http://www.ostomyinternational.org/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚