Tampons & Stomas

Specialties Wound

Published

In my WOCN courses it was recommend to use tampons in the stoma of a patient that was continuously draining while attempting to do ostomy care. Not left in for very long - just for the period of time when cleaning and prepping the peristomal skin. Also, only for mature stomas, not fistulas. The WOCN's at my current place of employment are uncomfortable with this.

As an ostomy nurse, is this something you were trained in, have done, &/or would recommend?

Thanks for any feedback!

Turtle in scrubs, I wish I had heard of this a year ago. My husband had a temporary ileostomy and it was very frustrating to change his wafer while fighting constant draining stool. Would have saved us a lot of time and frustration. I think it's a great idea.

This was actually discussed at my WOC class, because many people had used this method. The instructors stated that it is best never to put anything in the stoma, and did not recommend it. I haven't used it myself, preferring the "cone" approach.

Thanks TammyG. What is the "cone" approach?

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