Colostomy: Selecting Your Pouch

After a colostomy, stool is most often collected in a pouch that attaches to your body around the stoma. An adhesive skin barrier holds the pouch in place and keeps stool from leaking onto the skin. Most pouches are made of lightweight, odor-proof plastic. They lie flat against the body so they don't show or make noise.

There are many styles of pouches. Your doctor or ostomy nurse will help you select the one that's best for you. The skin barrier has to fit around the stoma without touching it. And it must stick well so there is no leaking or odor from the pouch.

• The skin barrier and the pouch are separate pieces. The skin barrier is applied to the skin. The pouch snaps onto a flange on the skin barrier.
• The bottom of the pouch has a tail with an opening. The tail is folded over and held closed with hook-and-loop closures or a clamp.
• To empty the pouch, you open the hook-and-loop closures or remove the clamp.

• The skin barrier and the pouch come as one piece. The skin barrier holds the pouch onto the skin.
• The bottom of the pouch has a tail with an opening. The tail is folded over and held closed with hook-and-loop closures or a clamp.
• To empty the pouch, you remove the hook-and-loop closures or the clamp.

• The skin barrier and the pouch come as one piece. The skin barrier holds the pouch onto the skin.
• The bottom of the pouch is sealed, so it can't be opened and emptied.
• You remove the pouch and dispose of it when it is about 1/3 full. Don't let your pouch get more than 1/2 full.

For the pouch to fit around the stoma, the skin barrier must have an opening. Some skin barriers have precut openings, and some that you size and cut yourself. To find the correct size opening for your stoma, use a measuring guide. Most pouches come with a guide in the box. Your doctor may also give you one.

• Find the smallest hole on the guide that fits around the stoma without touching it. There should be 1/8 inch between the stoma and the hole on the guide.
• To cut the opening yourself, center the guide hole on the back of the skin barrier. Trace the pattern. Then cut the opening using curved scissors.
• For precut openings, order pouches with the size opening that matches the size of the hole on the guide.

You can buy other stoma care products through special catalogs, at medical supply stores, and at some drugstores.

• Moisture barrier powder, paste, or gel. These add an extra layer of skin protection. They help protect the skin if stool leaks. Wipe away excess powder, paste, or gel. Don't use skin care products that contain alcohol. Alcohol can make your skin too dry.
• Adhesive paste and skin barrier wafers. These fill in uneven places in the skin around the stoma. This helps the pouch stick better. Don't use creams, oils, and lotions on the skin around your stoma. These types of products can make it hard to attach the pouch to your skin.
• Convex skin barriers help make a better seal when the skin around the stoma is uneven or the stoma is level with or sinks below the skin. Some convex barriers come with a pouch attached. Others are inserts that can be added to any pouch.
• Pouch filters and deodorants help prevent odor.
• Ostomy belts help keep the pouch in place.
• Pouch covers help keep the skin under the pouch dry and comfortable.
• Self-adhesive plastic caps can be used instead of a pouch if you irrigate or have regular bowel movements.