Changing the focus to provide increased stoma and peristomal skin protection

Almost half of the persons living with an ostomy experience stomal or peristomal skin problems yet approximately 80% may not consult a WOCN. Many of the problems involve cutting the appliance opening to large or too small or not re-fitting the stoma once a change has occurred. This frequently leads to peristomal skin breakdown, leakage and stoma lacerations. Three case studies involving peristomal redness and bleeding from exposure to urine, severe hyperplasia and stoma laceration, the case studies show how moldable technology reduced problems as the wafer preparation was focused on molding the opening to fit and protect the stoma and not a specific measurement for the stoma. The wafer opening was molded to fit as the stoma changed providing a proper fit, reducing stoma, peristomal skin breakdown and leakage. The ostomates related that it was easier and they were less anxious focusing on fitting and protecting the stoma using the moldable method than it was to cut or remember to re-size the openings of precut wafers when the stoma changed sizes. They expressed that they felt they provided a better fit especially when molding to fit an irregular shaped stoma than it was to cut accurately place the pre cut wafer on the skin.