Colostomy - Its Types - and Pouching System

What is Colostomy?

A colostomy is a hole in the lower left side of the patient's abdomen, created in a small part of the colon (large intestine). It has been fabricated in the result of an infection in the colon, colon cancer, blockage in the colon, injury in the colon, injury in the bowel, ulcerative disease, inflammation in the bowel, or any other serious bowel disease.

After the diagnosis of a specific disease related to the colon, large intestine, or bowel, doctors suggest some medicines. If the illness stays remain and bothers the anal system of the patient, then there is the need for colostomy. Moreover, in the case of cancer and radiation treatment of the colon, a person must need the colostomy opening for the proper functioning of the bowel and large intestine.

Therefore, surgeons design a round pit in the lower left side of the belly wall, it excretes stool through this stoma or opening. In the colostomy operation, the anus of the patient does not discharge the feces. A section of the colon (large intestine) takes to the stoma, and after this artificial practice, an ostomate releases the solid waste through the stoma. The stool or feces collects into a container or bag, called an ostomy pouch or stoma pouch. There is a complete pouching system that holds the waste, protects the opening, and provide comfortability to the patient. The colostomy can be for a few months, until the recovery of the disease, or for the entire life.

Types of Colostomy

There are different types of colostomies relying on the disease and the treatment of specific parts of the large intestine and bowel. Well, the two common names are temporary colostomy and Permanent colostomy.

Temporary Colostomy

This is a reversible process. Temporary colostomy means that your colon will attach to the anus, after the healing of the infection or disease. Thus, the stoma will get closed after the large intestine or a section of the bowel will bring back.

Permanent Colostomy

It is the building of stoma for the rest of the life of the patient. When there is a chronic bowel disease, radiation treatment, or colon cancer, then an infected section of the large intestine or bowel removed permanently. Then, for the rest of the life, an ostomate discharges feces through the stoma.

Transverse Colostomy

Transverse colostomy occurs due to Diverticulitis, obstruction, birth defect, blockage, injury, or inflammatory bowel disease. In this surgery, an upper portion or lower portion of the colon was removed due to the mentioned diseases. It appears on the right side or in the middle of the abdominal wall. The purpose of the removal of the transverse colon is to discharge stool before reaching to the descending colon. This could be permanent and temporary, depending on the removal portion.

Ascending Colostomy

It also fashions on the right side of the belly button. In the ascending colostomy, a small segment of the colon remains active, and the infected part removes from the large intestine. Moreover, it releases a liquid form of stool; therefore, in such defects, usually doctors suggest ileostomy.

Descending Colostomy

When a portion of the descending colon removes due to the injury or obstruction, and stoma appears on the left side, it is descending colostomy. It discharges a firm formation of feces.

Sigmoid Colostomy

A section of the large intestine is known as sigmoid. Thus, when an incision and removal required in the sigmoid colon, called a sigmoid colostomy.

Pouching System for Colostomies

The appropriate pouching system for colostomy patients is discardable pouches and bags. The drainable needs frequent emptying and cleaning, but a colostomy patient discharges a firm and solid form of stool; therefore, there is no need to drain a bag again and again. A colostomy knows the movement pf bowel; however, after the discharge of waste, a patient can go to the loo and empty the bag. Moreover, a colostomy person should wear a new pouching system including adhesive, stoma bag, skin barrier, and flanges after every two days. In the case of transverse or loop colostomies, you can wear a drainable pouching system.

Method of Irrigation for Colostomy Patients

What is Irrigation?

Irrigation is a regular process of washing and clearing the stool from the colon with water. It is an alternative name or method of enema for clearing out the feces from the large intestine or colon. Some colostomy patients choose the irrigation process of washing the solid waste from the colon to regulate the functions of opening or stoma in the abdominal wall. Due to this method, a colostomy person can predict the movement of bowel and able to use small ostomy bags. The smaller pouches may include stoma caps, place in between irrigations. Moreover, the irrigation method is not suitable for every colostomy patient. Well, not every ostomy person feels comfortable with the irrigation process. Therefore, there are a few key points for colostomy persons to initiate this process.

Irrigation for Descending Colostomy and Sigmoid Colostomy

Irrigation is a method to clear out the solid stool from the colon. Therefore, this is not appropriate for every ostomy patient. Urostomy and ileostomy persons cannot adopt the process of irrigation to clean the waste container. Well, the patients of descending colostomy and sigmoid colostomy can use this technique to wash out the feces. Moreover, patients with transverse colostomy and ileal conduit cannot irrigate the discharge with this method.

Many ostomy patients do no know about the type of stoma they have. Doctors clear this in the pre-operative session, but many patients skip this meeting because they think it is useless and futile. Therefore, before adopting the irrigation method to wash the stool or waste content, consult your surgeon and ask about the kins of ostomy you have. Moreover, in a few cases, your doctor does not suggest your irrigation method even you have sigmoid or descending colostomies; thus, ask your Enterostomal Therapy Nurse (ET) before adopting the irrigation method. Furthermore, the ostomy patients who have a continent diversion or Kock pouch, cannot use the irrigation method for washing the solid stool.

Is Irrigation Appropriate for Every Colostomy Patient?

As I mentioned above, the descending and sigmoid colostomy can use the method of irrigation; however, there are a few more reasons to adopt this process. Well, this is not an appropriate technique for everyone even with sigmoid or descending colostomies. If a colostomy person has undergone or will go through the chemotherapy or radiation treatment for the abdomen or pelvis, then this is not an adequate method for you to clear out the stool.

Due to the radiation and Chemotherapies, the functions of the stoma may get disturbed or alter for a few months or permanently' therefore, you should not adopt irrigation for washing the colon. This would be problematic for colostomy persons. Moreover, for parastomal hernia patients, it is an inappropriate technique. If a colostomy patient has a hernia and the lump is reducing continuously, still it is not safe for them to use the irrigation method. It can lead to further complications of the bowel. Apart from these diseases, stoma prolapses can create problems for ostomy patients. For diarrhea patients, irrigation would be a risky solution. Thus, they should also not try this method to wash out the colon and clear the feces.

Who can use the Method of Irrigation?

Irrigation is an appropriate method for a few colostomy patients and that are sigmoid and descending colostomy. The patients whose stomach form a semi-thick or thick feces cam adopt the method of irrigation to wash the stool and colon. Moreover, the regulation of bowel is necessary for the formed stool. Therefore, you should eat five to six meals per day, so that your digestive system gets active and to regulate the bowel. Do exercise, perform small physical activities, take more fluids to an active bowel, and proper functioning.