Wound and stoma care

For some diabetic patients, the most common complication is colostomy. After getting a colostomy, they must be hospitalized for treatment and receive special care under the guidance of a doctor. In addition, the incidence of colon cancer and rectal cancer caused by this disease has become increasingly high, so patients must pay attention to it and receive treatment as soon as possible. So what are the precautions for wound stoma care?

The long-lasting wounds of diabetic foot patients, the incontinence management of paralyzed patients, and the life skills of patients with intestinal stomas, these embarrassing diseases that have tormented people for a long time, all require the care of professional stoma medical staff. It is understood that with the significant increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in recent years, the number of new stoma patients in the country has reached 100,000 each year. A large number of patients have no one to care for them and can only rely on self-management. Relevant data show that due to disease causes and improper care, the incidence of early complications in patients with colostomy is 16.3%-53.8%, and nearly 1/3 of patients with colostomy suffer from complications. Now, more and more hospitals have opened wound/ostomy specialist clinics with professional ostomy therapists to care for wounds and ostomies.

What is a wound/ostomy specialist for?

Usually, domestic surgeons pay less attention to the location and care of the stoma when performing stoma surgery, but this often plays an important role in the patient's later recovery. For example, many patients with colostomy have been in a state of inferiority and closure for a long time, locking themselves at home, unwilling to go out, and even less willing to communicate with others. After mastering the skills of correct stoma care, patients can fully return to society. Starting from before the operation, a professional stoma therapist can be involved and choose the location of the stoma together with the surgeon based on the patient's actual physical condition to facilitate the patient's future care. After surgery, they not only provide patients with nursing skills, but also provide professional psychological treatment to help these stoma patients return to society.

What “diseases” do wound/ostomy specialists treat?

① Stoma care: Systematically intervene in perioperative care, provide patients with reasonable consultation and suggestions, conduct rehabilitation guidance, and deal with stoma and peri-stomal complications. Teach patients to be familiar with the uses and characteristics of stoma products, provide and guide the selection and use of stoma care appliances, and improve the quality of life of patients.

②Chronic wound care: consultation and treatment of pressure sores, surgical infection/liquefaction wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, lower limb venous ulcers, radiation dermatitis, cancerous wounds, burns/scalds, etc., shortening the course of the disease, alleviating the pain of dressing changes, and reducing medical expenses.

③ Fistula and incontinence care: Use ostomy bags to collect fluids and feces, reduce the number of dressing changes, reduce local skin complications, and improve patient comfort.