Cleaning out a Colostomy Bag

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 3, 2012

Get a dry washcloth.

Place it under the ostomy bag outlet.

Place your graduated cylinder (or whatever) under the ostomy bag outlet. Open up the ostomy bag (via clamp or valve or velcro-type fastener), and "milk" the contents into the graduated cylinder (while holding your breath). Once the bag is emptied, set the graduated cylinder full of ostomy-goodness on a nearby table (or the floor, if all else fails). Using the washcloth, wipe the ostomy bag outlet, then seal it closed.

Empty the graduated cylinder into your nearest toilet (after measuring output, of course!). Clean the container, set it aside. Stash the washcloth in the nearest linen cart.

All done.....good luck!

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2012

Stoma Care - Registered Nurse Training - YouTube I'm a visual learner lol. Just in case you're expected to provide stoma care..good luck!

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Jun 4, 2012

Get a dry washcloth.
Place it under the ostomy bag outlet.
Place your graduated cylinder (or whatever) under the ostomy bag outlet. Open up the ostomy bag (via clamp or valve or velcro-type fastener), and "milk" the contents into the graduated cylinder (while holding your breath). Once the bag is emptied, set the graduated cylinder full of ostomy-goodness on a nearby table (or the floor, if all else fails). Using the washcloth, wipe the ostomy bag outlet, then seal it closed.
Empty the graduated cylinder into your nearest toilet (after measuring output, of course!). Clean the container, set it aside. Stash the washcloth in the nearest linen cart.
All done.....good luck!

Thanks! These are great step by step instructions! I wish I had a linen cart. This in in somebody's home and I get to clean the linens! WHOOP!

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Jun 4, 2012

If the person can sit on the toilet and open their legs, that's the best way. You can just dump the contents directly into the toilet and flush immediately. Since you're in home care, you might not have one of those peri bottles handy, but those are good for spraying out the inside of the bag.

If it's an ileostomy, the stool will be loose and watery and the bag will have to be emptied more often, and they smell worse. Colostomies usually have more formed stool in them, for obvious reasons.

dpique · Jun 26, 2015

First off, if you don't have to measure the inside the colostomy bag...take a graduated cylinder and place a plastic bag inside the cylinder next empty the contents of the colostomy bag into the cylinder. use Clorox wipes to clean off the colostomy bag then reseal the colostomy bag. Tie the bag with the contents and throw it away.

Missingyou, CNA · Jun 26, 2015

I might add, it smells HORRIBLE! So be prepared. It is worse than the most horrible BM you have ever had to clean!

And, check the bag often because it will sometimes fill with air and the air has to be let out of the bag (hold your nose) or the bag could pull away from the skin and you will then have to change the bag.

IF you should have to change the bag because it is leaking, the process will depend on the type of bag, but generally you will have to cut the opening the exact size so it fits snug around the stoma. You don't want any of the bag contents to get on the skin!

Most often the bag will only have to be changed every 4 days or so unless there is a leak. Changing the bag is hard on the patient's skin.

FutureNurse305 · Jun 28, 2015

Oh wow my LTC makes it very easy for us to clean there bag. All residents have like a faucet connected to there toilet and I just pull that down and clean it out that way. I never had to use a towel or anything like that all the water just flows out the BM.