A New Use for Radiation Therapy Temporary Mark Covers: Adaptation and Incorporation into Ostomy Clinical Practice for Stoma Site Marking

Purpose:    The Ambulatory WOC Nurses at a major comprehensive Cancer Center are responsible for the Stoma Site Markings in clinic during the consent visit. This could be the day before surgery to 4 weeks prior as many clients live in other cities and may need to be marked 30 days in advance due to their travel arrangements.  Many of the clients need to be marked for 2 stomas and in complex cases the WOC Nurses make 2-4 marks that would need to be maintained prior to surgery.   It was essential to clinical practice to maintain the accuracy and longevity of these markings so an investigation into the best type of protective covers to preserve the temporary marks was initiated.  Objective: Previous methods of maintaining the stoma site markings included covering the indelible marker with a transparency, or gauze then a transparency. Some clients developed skin reactions to the transparency, and some transparencies came off before the 30 days and the marks needed reinforcement. The surgeons reported that on clients with oilier skins the marks came off unto the transparency and it was difficult for them to readily and accurately confirm placement in the OR.  The WOC Nurses found a temporary mark cover used in radiation therapy and trialed it on stoma site markings and found that the clients were able to maintain the marks, there were no complaints of skin issues, and the surgeons reported easily finding their guiding marks.  The temporary covers were easy to apply, pre cut, and clients were able to shower, exercise, swim and yet maintain the stoma site marking. Outcome:  The temporary mark covers have now become the standard for stoma site marking in the institution, included on the ostomy formulary at a lower cost, and clients are able to preserve the stoma site marks.