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With the help of colostomy irrigation, colostomy patients can evacuate stool using water enema, which irrigates the stoma. Numerous benefits make colostomy irrigation a compelling option.

• You are not going to have to empty large bags during the day.
• You will have more control over bowel movements.
• You will not have odor problems.
• You will be able to use stoma caps or mini bags instead of large ostomy pouching systems.

In simple words, colostomy irrigation is an alternative to the use of colostomy bags. It may be worth mentioning that a colostomy surgery involves the removal or bypassing of an entire or a part of the colon. With the bypassed or removed colon unable to support the normal evacuation of stool, creating a diversion becomes the utmost necessity. That diversion redirects stool to a surgically created opening in the abdominal surface called a stoma.

The most conventional way of collect stool from a stoma is to attach a colostomy bag, which the user discards or empties when the bag is full. However, many patients refuse to wear a bag. That’s where the concept of stoma irrigation comes in. This process refers to the identification of the right time to evacuate stool as the first step. It is a necessary step given there are no sphincter muscles that can help the patient postpone the stool evacuations. The second step involves the use of water enema that clears the stool from the colon. When the irrigation is complete, the patient can cover the stoma with a stoma cap. And if the patient is more concerned about the unpredictability of stomal output, he can simply use a mini bag, which most commonly has enough storage to collect the leftover stool that stoma irrigation doesn’t clear up due to any reason.

The process of colostomy irrigation

Since the evacuation of stomal output through a colostomy may be more predictable, patients must set a schedule for colostomy irrigation. They need to perform this procedure at the same time every day. The ideal time for colostomy irrigation is sixty minutes after meals.

The process involves injecting water into the large intestine through the stoma. The colon accepts this water and doesn’t respond quickly. Therefore, you are going to have to wait until the stool starts evacuating from the stoma. Be ready with all measures in place to make sure that the evacuation remains as simple and clean as possible. Once the evacuation is complete, you need to clean the stoma and cover it with the stoma cap or the mini bag.

The process of colostomy irrigation can have a very positive impact on your lifestyle. Since you are not going to have to carry a bag all the time, you will have peace of mind. However, you may have to talk to your ostomy care nurse or doctor if you face the issue of gas accumulation in the colon.