Peristomal Skin complications treated with Transforming Powder Dressing : A new Technology improves standard approaches to management

Surgical patients with stomas and abdominal fistulae are some of the most challenging patients to manage when the peristomal and periwound skin is damaged. The weeping moisture from the damaged skin affects the ability to keep an appliance in place to control enteral discharge. Enterostomal soilage will exacerbate the skin condition making managment even more difficult. The end result is a painful stomal or fistula site that patients find nearly impossible to manage on their own and require frequent re-application of the appliance increasing their cost of supplies. A new Transforming Powder Dressing material has become available that can help protect and heal damaged peristomal and wound skin while managing moisture successfully. Moisture management becomes critical to success with problematic appliance placement. Creativity with pouching and a new Transforming Powder Dressing has helped patients with peristomal skin wounding and mucocutaneous separation. Trans forming powder dressing not only allowed them to heal, but helps extend wear time of the appliance. Two illustrative cases are presented to demonstrate this innovative approach to stomal care.