Post-operative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Results and other Advantages Using an Ostomy Pouch Adaptor*

Following ostomy surgery, post-operative abdominal pain and tenderness poses a challenge in maintaining patients comfort during ostomy pouch changes.  At our hospital, we changed our primary ostomy system to moldable skin barriers.  While we are pleased that this ostomy system has simplified application for both patients and staff while enhancing peristomal skin protection, we were troubled by the fact that we still had to press on the patient’s tender abdomen post-operatively to attach the pouch to the flange.  When the manufacturer of this ostomy line introduced a new adaptor designed to minimize this problem, we were eager to engage in a product trial to see if this device could improve this issue for our patients.  Using the visual analog pain score (VAS) as our outcome measure, we tested the device with ten new ostomy patients.  Included in our trial were colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy patients with end stomas.  Excluded from the trial were patients with loop stomas with rods.  VAS pain scores in all ten patients did not increase when we used the adaptor to separately attach the pouch to the wafer. While this device was designed to be eliminated once abdominal tenderness resolves, we have since discovered other benefits that may encourage the clinician to use the product long term for other patient issues such as (1) impaired hand dexterity, (2) fingers too large to fit under other ostomy systems flanges, (3) painful peristomal skin issues such as pyoderma, and (4) abdominal pain from other causes such as recurrent bowel obstruction or terminal disease.  Based upon our experience, we believe that the ostomy adaptor not only improves patient comfort during pouch changes post-operatively, but also offers other long-term benefits. 
*SUR-FIT Natura^Ò Low-Pressure Adaptor SUR-FIT Natura is a registered trademark of ConvaTec Inc. 
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