Learning Objectives

This course was written specifically for clinicians who teach ostomy care to their patients in the home setting. 

By the end of this program you should be able to:

 

1.  Describe three different types of ostomies and the differences between them.   2.  List five ostomy accessories and how to use them. You should be able to discuss each of these with your patients and be comfortable with their use.   3.  Define three aspects of teaching that should be done prior to discharge.   4.  List three resources available to support ostomy patients after you are no longer caring for them.

 

Medical conditions that may require an ostomy

 

An Ostomy may be required if there is disease, trauma, infection or birth defects present. Here are most common reasons that a person might need an ostomy:

 

Cancer of the small intestine, large intestine or bladder.

 

Inflammatory Bowel disease including Crohns disease and Ulcerative colitis. It’s worth noting that since Ulcerative Colitis is a disease of the large intestine only, if the large intestine is removed this is curative and the disease no longer will exist.

 

Patients with severe complications from CDiff.

 

Patients with complications from Diverticulitis, particularly if the bowel is perforated.

 

If a patient has a bowel obstruction that requires surgery to correct it they may also end up with an Ostomy.

 

A traumatic injury to the Abdomen (gun shot or stab wound affecting their bowel).

 

Babies born with congenital birth defects that affect the rectum or bowel.

 

About half of these ostomies will be permanent and half will have the ability to be reversed.

The ability to reverse an ostomy is dependent upon the reason the patient has it, and their general medical health.