Case sharing after ostomy

A few days ago, a patient with an ostomy had an online consultation: he found a lot of mucus on the side of his urostomy and was worried about whether there was a problem. In fact, many stoma patients will encounter mucus in the stoma after surgery. Is this normal? This article will introduce how to deal with this kind of situation after an ostomy, please follow me to take a look.

What is the mucus that comes out around the stoma?

Often, some people find mucus in the ostomy bag, which is actually produced by the intestinal mucosa to facilitate bowel movements. Even after an ostomy, the intestinal mucosa continues to produce mucus. Excess mucus is drained through the stoma. It is not so obvious to people with an enterostomy. And in people with a urostomy, the mucus is easier to see because the urine is clear. Mucus discharge is usually higher, especially in the months following surgery, but also decreases over time. The slime can vary in appearance, and for some, it can be a clear "egg white" or a thick, glue-like consistency. It may leak from your buttocks or accumulate in a ball, which can cause discomfort. If there is any sign of blood or pus in the discharge, it could be a sign of infection or tissue damage, so contact your GP.

Stoma mucus generally has the following two situations:

1. Normal intestinal mucus:

The stoma is to suture the intestinal mucosa to the skin. The intestine itself will secrete mucus. Under normal circumstances, a small amount of mucus will be discharged with the stool. It is generally clear and transparent. If it is jelly-like, ileostomy will be more common. You may see it when you clean your stoma, this is normal and nothing to worry about. If there is blood, yellow pus, etc. in the mucus, it is recommended to seek medical treatment in time.

2. Glue on the chassis of the ostomy bag caused by leakage:

Generally, the chassis of ostomy bags use hydrocolloids. When the stool is thin and water seeps into the chassis, the hydrocolloid can absorb water and form a gel, which is usually slippery, whitish, or yellow, If there is a lot of water, the hydrocolloid will be thinner and softer, like snot. This is a sign of a leak, not mucus coming out of the gut. At this time, the chassis of the ostomy bag needs to be replaced in time, but there is no need to worry about the ostomy problem, and there is no need to go to the hospital.

Therefore, stoma friends need to distinguish whether it is the intestinal mucus flowing out of the intestine, or the gel formed after the chassis colloid meets water.

Pay attention to the following situations:

There is a lot of mucus in the stoma for a long time

Mucus contains obvious blood streaks and pus

Accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms, it is recommended to seek medical treatment and examination in time.

For more information on Innomed® ostomy skin barrier, refer to the previous articles. If you have customized needs, you are welcome to contact us; we will serve you wholeheartedly.

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Editor: kiki Jia

Date: February 17, 2023