Stoma care
A stoma is an artificial bowel outlet on the abdominal wall that has to be surgically created due to illnesses. A distinction is made between colostomy (drainage of the large intestine), ileostomy (drainage of the small intestine) and urostomy (drainage of the urine).
As the stoma has no sphincter muscle, stool or urine flows out uncontrollably. The excretion can be collected in a bag or initially held back with a cap. The term stoma care covers the fitting of base plates, stoma bags, stoma caps and cleaning. How often the ostomy appliance should be changed depends on the amount and consistency of the discharge.
