Ostomy skin study

A new study has revealed that almost half of all people living with a permanent stoma have a skin disorder around their stoma that may be avoided by regular visits to a specialist nurse.

 

These disorders cause significant discomfort and reduce the quality of life for the affected individual. The results of the study have just been presented at the biennial congress of the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET) in Hong Kong on 2-6 July 2006.

The OstomySkinStudy, which studied a diverse group of people with ostomies living in the community, found that 45% of the group had skin disorders around their stoma. Surprisingly, many of these people did not realise they had a skin disorder, and more than 80% had not sought help from their physician or stoma-care nurse. Furthermore, some patients did not recognize their condition even when specialized physicians diagnosed their skin disorder as severe.

The study was performed by stoma care nurses and physicians in association with Coloplast, a world leading developer and manufacturer of ostomy products.

Skin disorders are a common problem for patients living with an ostomy. The study also shows that waste getting in contact with the skin as it leaves the stoma is the main cause of skin disorders. Many patients living with a stoma have come to accept the resulting discomfort and impaired quality of life.

Dr. Gregor Jemec, chairman of the department of Dermatology at Roskilde University Hospital, Denmark who supervised the study says: "This important bench-marking study is based on a representative sample of patients and shows the scope of ostomy care to improve the lives of many patients".
Stoma-care nurses who examined patients in the OstomySkinStudy have recommended regular, annual follow-up visits for all people living with ostomies at their local stoma care clinic.

 

About ostomy

An ostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an artificial opening in the body, called a stoma (from the Greek word for ‘mouth'). The stoma provides an alternative way to get rid of waste when the normal route is unable to function due to disease or injury. Waste is collected in a bag that is attached to the skin surrounding the stoma with an adhesive. In the intestinal tract, the opening can be made in the large intestine (colostomy) or the small intestine (ileostomy). In both types of ostomy, waste leaves the body through the stoma instead of through the rectum. A third type of ostomy, a urostomy, allows urine to pass out of the body.

In Western countries it is estimated that 1 out of 1000 people are living with a stoma.