Ileostomy
An ileostomy is a surgically created opening (stoma) made in the lower part of the small intestine (ileum). During the procedure, the end of the small intestine is passed through the abdominal wall to form a stoma – usually on the lower right side of the abdomen.
An ileostomy is performed in connection with diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, colon cancer (Bowel cancer) as well as in case of injuries and other conditions, which make it necessary to “disengage” the colon.
In case of ileostomy, the stool is accumulated – temporarily or permanently – in a so-called ileostomy bag.
Mental and social consequences
The stool discharged from an ileostomy is quite fluid, and you have no control over your bowel movement. The ostomy bag continuously collects the stool, and the bag must be emptied at approximately 4-5-hour intervals. If the ostomy bag is properly attached and you wash and clean the area around the stoma regularly, odor nuisance is avoidable.
Nevertheless, the intervention may have mental as well as social consequences for the person who is to live with a stoma. The problems associated with ileostomy and the changes it entails for a person’s self-esteem and his/her relation to others may have major consequences for the person in question.
An important problem for many people with a stoma concerns the emptying their ostomy bag. Some find it both cumbersome and embarrassing – especially in public rest rooms, because it increases the risk of splashing and noise.
To solve this problem, GP Medical Devices has developed EasyDrainer – a unique, flushable drainage sleeve made of special paper. EasyDrainer eliminates the risk of splashing and soiling your clothes when emptying the bag. After use, flush the easily soluble paper down the toilet.