Venting ostomy bags

gwenith, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2004

One of the cheapest ways I know of to vent the bags is to make a teeny tiny incision at the top of the bag and cover it with micropore and then try like the dickens never to have that part anywhere near the loose stool filling the rest of the bag.

OzNurse69 · Feb 23, 2004

Why not just have a box of vented bags for those who need them? I know they're more expensive than regular, but surely it would be more cost effective to use one vented bag rather than have to keep changing "modified" bags that have leaked.

Just a thought.

Ruth

Brownbetty · Feb 23, 2004

Why not just have a box of vented bags for those who need them? I know they're more expensive than regular, but surely it would be more cost effective to use one vented bag rather than have to keep changing "modified" bags that have leaked.
Just a thought.
Ruth

The hospital/Unit would never want to fork over the money for that :angryfire

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2004

Are they one piece appliances?? How about just opeining the bottom (if you can without getting stool out and let the gass out. If its a two piece, just open it at the top. Some of the older pts/ nurses poke pin holes in the bag to let the gas out, but carefull.... it will smell all day long :uhoh21:

1yrLPNmimi · Feb 23, 2004

Can anyone let me know of ways to vent ostomy bags? I work in the Neonatal ICU and some of our babies with ostomies blow up there bags with gas, how can we vent the bag without leaking the stool from the bag?
Thanks

I would say that you would just have to be checking the baby often so just empty the gas/stool when you do, babies are constantly having to be burped anyways. The baby would also appriciate the attention.

Brownbetty · Feb 24, 2004

I would say that you would just have to be checking the baby often so just empty the gas/stool when you do, babies are constantly having to be burped anyways. The baby would also appriciate the attention.

In teh Neonatal ICU one focus is to cluster cares so we don't want to bother a little premie every hour or 2 hours just to mess with their ostomy bag if possible.

milenko · Sep 2, 2004

One nurse I know uses a needle without the syringe attached near the top of the bag, it deflated very quickly and the was no risk to leakage at all.

goodasitgetts · Jul 28, 2006

THe vented pouchs have a charcoal filter over the vent which helps to prevent odor. You must be careful to keep the filter from getting wet or it won't help with the odor. Some have changeable filters as well.