Ostomy care is a vital aspect of nursing, and ostomy nurses play a crucial role in helping patients adapt to life after ostomy surgery. One of the most common concerns in ostomy care is preventing leaks around the stoma site. To empower ostomy nurses with the knowledge they need, this blog will delve into the importance of secure adhesion for ostomy patients and provide valuable tips for ensuring leak-free confidence through effective ostomy adhesion.
The Importance of Secure Ostomy Adhesion
Before we explore the prevention methods, let’s understand why secure adhesion is paramount for ostomy patients:
Enhancing Quality of Life
The importance of secure ostomy adhesion cannot be overstated, as it fundamentally transforms the lives of ostomy patients. By providing a dependable seal around the stoma site, it grants individuals the freedom and confidence to engage in their daily activities without the persistent fear of leakage looming over them.
Imagine the profound impact this sense of security has on an ostomy patient’s quality of life. With proper adhesion, patients are no longer burdened by the constant fear of potential accidents or embarrassing situations. Instead, they can focus on living life to the fullest, pursuing their passions, and nurturing their relationships without the debilitating worry that leaks can bring.
Preventing Skin Complications
The significance of effective ostomy adhesion extends far beyond merely preventing leaks; it plays a pivotal role in preserving the overall health and well-being of ostomy patients. By establishing a secure and reliable seal around the stoma site, this adhesive barrier performs a multifaceted function that encompasses not only the prevention of leaks but also the mitigation of various peristomal challenges.
Skinister Medical Adhesive plays a crucial role in mitigating the problem of skin irritation caused by leaks by offering a reliable and secure bond that Ostomy patients can rely on. The primary factor contributing to skin irritation in this region is often the occurrence of leaks, which can expose the sensitive skin around the stoma to irritating stool and urine. Skinister Medical’s innovative adhesives are designed with a focus on preventing these leaks, thereby significantly reducing the risk of skin irritation.
Our Adhesives are engineered to provide a secure and leak-resistant seal around the stoma, effectively containing stool and urine within the pouching system. This not only minimizes the risk of skin exposure to irritants but also contributes to a greater sense of confidence and peace of mind for ostomy patients.
Preventing Ostomy Leaks: Insights from Professionals
Now, let’s delve into practical tips for ostomy nurses to prevent leaks and promote patient comfort:
Customize Your Adhesive Choice
It’s important to take into account the unique and specific needs of each individual patient under your care. This holistic consideration should encompass a comprehensive evaluation, including factors such as the size and characteristics of the stoma, the patient’s level of physical activity, and the sensitivity of their skin.
Ostomy patients can experience notable advantages by utilizing an adhesive like Skinister Medical Adhesive. This adhesive offers several benefits, including reduced instances of leaks and extended wear time. Additionally, Skinister Medical Adhesive promotes skin health by providing a protective barrier that minimizes the risk of irritation and dermatitis. Moreover, its tailored design takes into account individual patient needs, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit around the stoma, enhancing overall well-being. By recommending Skinister Medical Adhesive, you’re not only helping patients experience fewer leaks and longer wear times but also supporting their skin health and comfort throughout their ostomy journey.
Optimal Skin Preparation
Emphasizing the importance of maintaining clean and dry peristomal skin is crucial when it comes to skin preparation. It’s essential to understand that the skin must be meticulously cleaned to remove any impurities, oils, or residual adhesive from previous applications. Additionally, it’s worth noting that soap additives, like moisturizers, can potentially reduce adhesion, so it’s essential to ensure that the skin is free from any lingering soap residues.
Precise Appliance Measurement
When it comes to stoma sizing, no detail is too small to overlook. Every stoma is as unique as the individual it belongs to, and its size and shape can evolve over time. Therefore, it is essential to measure it accurately at each appliance change. This process involves using a specifically designed measuring guide or template, ensuring that the dimensions are meticulously recorded.
Adhesive Application
Adhesive Application: When applying adhesive, it’s crucial to emphasize the necessity of a thin and even coat for optimal results. Skinister Medical’s spray formulation is designed to facilitate this precise application.
- If the challenges to good adherence are great, a second coat may be applied, but only after the 5 minute dry time of the first coat. Wait another 5 minutes after the second coat to adhere the appliance.
- The second coat may be applied directly to skin, taking care to shield the stoma as it is a mucous membrane.
- This can be done with our dropper bottle in strategic areas, or our spray top may be removed, and a small portion of adhesive may be placed in a small clean container and applied with a clean brush or swab.
- Having the second coat on the skin can significantly increase adhesion.
Drying: Skinister Medical Adhesive is supplied in a hexamethyldisiloxane solvent and must be allowed to fully dry before attaching the ostomy device. Failure to do so can lead to trapped solvents that may irritate the skin or reduce adhesion. Avoid applying an excessive amount of adhesive as it may not dry properly.
Device Application: When positioning the device over the stoma, ensure it is centered evenly and does not create wrinkles or uneven pressure on the skin. Once satisfied with the position, apply gentle pressure to promote adhesion.
Pressure-sensitive adhesives establish a gentle bond by closely conforming to the skin. This bonding process is enhanced by the application of pressure and time. In most cases, full strength will be achieved within an hour or two, so it’s advisable to apply an ostomy appliance several hours before engaging in rigorous physical activity.
Timely Appliance Changes
How often ostomates change their pouching systems can be highly variable depending on which system best suits them. Some colostomy patients change their system more than once daily with each bowel movement, whereas some ileostomy or urostomy patients with high amounts of liquid output use pouches that are emptied several times a day and are more likely to be exposed to fluids.
These variations can make adhesion a challenge for some patients. Active patients that are healthy may want to swim or exercise which can also expose the pouching system to excess moisture.
Since Skinister Medical Adhesive is silicone-based, it is highly water-resistant and can help keep ostomy wafers in place securely for longer periods. The addition of a medical adhesive can extend the wear time of pouches and keep skin healthy by decreasing the chance for leaks and stress to the skin with frequent or excessive changes.
All these factors can be physically uncomfortable for ostomates, as well as lead to skin breakdown, infections, and their sequelae. Excellent adhesion is at the crux of preventing these complications.
Conclusion
Your role as an ostomy nurse is critical to the health and well-being of ostomates and their families, and extends well beyond the realm of technical expertise. By providing support, empathy, education, and advocacy that deeply impact the lives of your patients, you are an invaluable resource.
We hope that by partnering with Skinister Medical, a trusted name in ostomy care, you’ll be able enhance your ability to provide comprehensive support and solutions to your patients, and enhance their quality of life when they face challenges with good adhesion of their devices.
