![[ Visit WOCN Website ]](images/header_bg.jpg)
Innovation, new technology and the continuing search for improved patient outcomes, is one that involves all Enterostomaltherapists. One area of our speciality that has been overlooked in recent times is colostomy irrigation. For patients who currently use a colostomy bag, significant problems continue to hamper stoma management, including hygienic and safe disposal of used colostomy bags and faecal matter, reactions to bag adhesives, social and psychological inhibitions and physical limitations.
Colostomy irrigation devices have changed very little since the Greer irrigation kit was introduced in 1946. Conventional systems use gravity feed to instil water into the bowel via a cone placed into the stoma.. Current systems often result in episodes of faecal discharge between washouts.
At the 2008 WCET congress in Slovenia a prototype of this device was presented. This gained interest and feedback from colleagues and former patients, which has now resulted in a new and innovative, evacuation system. This system, designed to allow colostomates to irrigate their stoma with ease, is a state of the art ergonomic shaped device with cone/cup interface to allow instillation of water from a standard gravity feed irrigation system.
This new design developed by an Australian company, will be comfortable and easy for a colostomate to use and will be efficient in providing a seal within and around the stoma to prevent leakage. This wearable product allows full mobility during irrigation and evacuation stages. Propriety design of bag inserts, acts as both irrigation bag and evacuation sleeve.
The new device has the potential to provide colostomy patients with continence control and reduced stoma management time, and substantially reduce the requirement for colostomy bags. The risk mitigation strategies built into the design of the device ensures that it is safer than existing commercially available systems.
Colostomy irrigation devices have changed very little since the Greer irrigation kit was introduced in 1946. Conventional systems use gravity feed to instil water into the bowel via a cone placed into the stoma.. Current systems often result in episodes of faecal discharge between washouts.
At the 2008 WCET congress in Slovenia a prototype of this device was presented. This gained interest and feedback from colleagues and former patients, which has now resulted in a new and innovative, evacuation system. This system, designed to allow colostomates to irrigate their stoma with ease, is a state of the art ergonomic shaped device with cone/cup interface to allow instillation of water from a standard gravity feed irrigation system.
This new design developed by an Australian company, will be comfortable and easy for a colostomate to use and will be efficient in providing a seal within and around the stoma to prevent leakage. This wearable product allows full mobility during irrigation and evacuation stages. Propriety design of bag inserts, acts as both irrigation bag and evacuation sleeve.
The new device has the potential to provide colostomy patients with continence control and reduced stoma management time, and substantially reduce the requirement for colostomy bags. The risk mitigation strategies built into the design of the device ensures that it is safer than existing commercially available systems.