|
TEN COMMON REASONS WHY OSTOMY POUCHES LEAK AND HOW TO AVOID THEM By Diane Krasner, RNMSET
THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY OSTOMY POUCHES MAY LEAK. LISTED ARE THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW TO HANDLE THEM. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONSULT YOUR E. T. OR STOMA NURSE OR YOUR DOCTOR. 1. POOR ADHERENCE TO PERISTOMAL SKIN Make sure that your peristomal skin is ‘bone dry’ before applying your pouch. Hold a warm hand over the pouch and stoma for 30 to 60 seconds after application to warm it and assure a good initial seal. 2. WRONG SIZE OF POUCH OPENING If the size of your stoma had changed (due to post-operative shrinkage or weight loss or gain, etc.) And you have not re-measured and adapted the opening accordingly, you may get undermining of the wafer and leakage. 3. FOLDS OR CREASES If skin fold or creases have developed and leakage is always along the crease, wafer pieces or ostomy paste can be used to build up the area in order to avoid leakage. You could also use stomahesive paste in the valleys and creases. See your ET Nurse for the ‘How To’s’. 4. PERISTOMAL SKIN IRRITATION Pouches don’t stick well to irritated skin. So, perform meticulous skin care to avoid irritated or denuded skin or a rash. If any of these problems develop, see you ET or physician as soon as possible, so that the problem can be nipped in the bud. 5. PROPER POUCH ANGLE If the pouch doesn’t hang vertically, the weight of its contents can exercise an uneven pull on the wafer, (twisting) and cause leakage. Every ostomate must find his/her optimal angle based on individual body configuration. 6. EMPTYING TOO FREQUENTLY Pouches should be emptied when 1/3 to 1/2 full. If allowed to overfill,, the weight of the effluent can break the seal and cause leakage. 7. EXTREMELY WARM TEMPERATURES Leakage in warm temperatures may be due to wafer ‘melt out’. More frequent pouch changes or a change in wafer material may be required to avoid leakage. 8. POUCH WEAR AND TEAR. Disposable wafers do wear out. If you’re stretching your wear time to a week or more, leakage may be due to the wafer wearing out. Try more frequent pouch changes. 9. IMPROPERLY STORED APPLIANCES Storing appliances in a warm or humid place (such as a bathroom) may affect the pouch adhesive. So don’t take chances ....keep pouches in a cool, dry place. A bedroom closet works well. 10. AGING MATERIALS Appliances don’t last forever. Ask your vendor (Supplier) what the recommended shelf-life is for the brand of pouch you wear. DO KEEP EXTRA POUCHES ON HAND.....BUT NOT TOO MANY 54 |