Gastrointestinal: Routine Ostomy Care

An ostomy is a surgically created opening used to connect an internal organ to the abdominal wall, through which waste products, like intestinal contents, are eliminated. An ostomy can be permanent or temporary, and it can be necessary because of fecal incontinence, an intestinal tumor, bowel trauma, and a bowel inflammatory disease. Routine ostomy care is done to check the state of the stoma, remove old ostomy appliances, clean the skin around the stoma, and to place new appliances.