Stoma assessment tool: Leakage
Is the pouch adhesion secure?
If there is any area of the adhesion that is not secure, it can result in leakages. Ensure that any previous adhesive has been removed and the skin is clean and dry before using a new pouch.
Please see below for products that can help.
naturfit®
naturfit®: one-piece convex colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy pouches
naturfit®
naturfit®: one-piece convex colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy pouches
skinsafe®
liftplus® 360 and liftplus® 360 citrus
liftplus® 360 and liftplus® 360 citrus: adhesive remover that helps to reduce the pain associated with the removal of stoma pouch adhesives
Have you recently re-measured your stoma?
Stomas can reduce in size or get larger. If the hole in the pouch is not cut to the right size, your bag will leak. It might be worth measuring your stoma so you can ensure the hole size is snug with the stoma. The recommendation is to have 1mm space around your stoma. Ensure it is not too tight as it can squeeze against the stoma and cause irritation.
Please see below for products that can help.
naturfit®
naturfit®: one-piece convex colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy pouches
naturfit®
naturfit®: one-piece convex colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy pouches
Has your body shaped changes since you last used your pouch?
As with clothes, something that might have fitted well a year ago, might not fit as well now. The same is true with stoma pouches. Try remeasuring and ensuring an exact fit for your stoma.
Please see below for products that can help.
naturfit®
naturfit®: one-piece convex colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy pouches
naturfit®
naturfit®: one-piece convex colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy pouches
Has there been a change in output?
Sometimes a change in output can cause leakage problems. This may be due to a different diet or a bug you’ve picked up. If the output change lasts for a number of days, it’s important to speak to a healthcare professional.
If your output is usually loose, a solidifying agent can convert liquid output into a manageable gel and prevent it from sloshing around, to help reduce the likelihood of leaks.
Please see below for products that can help.
naturfit®: one-piece convex colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy pouches
naturfit®: one-piece convex colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy pouches
absorbagel®: fast-acting solidifying agent to minimise odour and reduce noise and leaks
skinsafe®: barrier film that helps protect the skin and prevent skin stripping
Do you have trouble with ballooning?
Ballooning is when gas fills up within your pouch. This can then push the pouch away from the body and the adhesive can loosen.
If this has happened, try:
- Removing foods that may cause wind and slowly introduce them back into your diet to see if that is causing the issues.
- Check the filter on your stoma pouch is working correctly and isn’t blocked or damaged. If you find your stoma pouch isn’t working for you, you might want to try another stoma pouch which has a different filter system.
- Wind can sometimes be due to ingesting too much air. Avoid fizzy drinks, talking when eating and smoking.
Please see below for products that can help.
naturfit®
naturfit®: one-piece convex colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy pouches
naturfit®
naturfit®: one-piece convex colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy pouches
Do you have trouble with pancaking?
Pancaking is when the pouch sticks together due to static. This can make it difficult for the output to drop down into the pouch which may cause leakage.
If this happens, consider a stoma management product such as:
- High viscosity gels to help prevent pouch layers sticking together to avoid the problem of pancaking.
- Products such as a stoma bridge designed to keep pouches from sticking together.
Please see below for products that can help.
naturfit®
naturfit®: one-piece convex colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy pouches