Proper cleaning of an ostomy bag is crucial to maintaining oneand#146;s health. Depending on the type of ostonomy products used, cleaning and maintenance will vary in some regards but itand#146;s always best to empty the bag well before itand#146;s completely filled, some time when itand#146;s between one-third and one-half full.
Most open-ended ostomy bags are reusable and are meant to last from five to seven days. They can remain attached to the body while being cleaned. When emptying, it is best to wear gloves and have everything that you will need with you ready to go. This will include whatever you are disposing the waste into, an asepto syringe and some alcohol prep pads.
To begin, remove the clamping device that keeps the ostomy bag shut. Then you can squeeze the waste out from the top. Once all of the waste is removed, use the asepto syringe to thoroughly rinse out the bag. Itand#146;s wise to disinfect the opening edges with an alcohol prep pad to disinfect it. Itand#146;s quite important to clean the outer edges because any waste that may have found its way there can cause lingering odors. Then just fold the bag up the way it had been along the creases and clamp it back up. When done with the process, a little bit of air freshener can help eliminate any odor that may be present.
Close-ended ostomy bags are meant to be disposable and require no cleaning of the actual bag but with both types of ostonomy products, cleaning of the skin is necessary when changing the bag. A few simple wipes around the stoma (the hole in your body) with some warm soapy water will be sufficient to clean it. Be sure to dry the area before attaching the bag. If you notice any irritation of the skin, inform your doctor. In order to maintain a proper seal, you want to keep the skin around the stoma smooth. Hair attracts particles that can inhibit a proper seal so shaving around the area may be necessary.
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