UPDATE 6/11/2010! Convatec’s Vitala has won a Gold Award for Medical Design Excellence at the Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) East Conference and Exposition.
Vitala, a new disposable colostomy control device for ostomates, provides an integrated filter that works with Convatec’s skin barriers that seals the stoma safely shut, keeping the stool inside up to 8 hours while still allowing air and gas to release through a deodorizing filter built into the waterproof device.
To make removal and changing easy, the device has a built-in expandable container that makes changing easier without risks of leaks and odors.
Obviously, this device is far more low-profile and less noisy than an ostomy pouch, and clinical trials show that the new Vitala device can be used safely up to 8 hours for patients that have had surgery at least 6-12 weeks prior.
The Convatec Ostomy Vitala device is already available in some Eurpoean countries and will be demonstrated in the United States on June 12-16, 2010 at the WOCN/WCET Joint Meeting in Phoeniz, AZ. It should be available to U.S. patients likely around Fall of 2010.
Update: The Vitala Device has also just won a 2010 Medical Design Excellent Award
Kids should be kids, and most of the same conveniences found in adult ostomy supplies can be found in pediatrics ostomy supplies. Pediatric ostomy supplies are scaled to fit and conform to smaller bodies, available from major suppliers of Ostomy supplies:
Hollister Pouchkins – Pouchkins pediatric ostomy products are small-sized pouches for newborns, infants, and young children. Materials used in the Pouchkins line of ostomy supplies are constructed with soft plastics and ComfortWear fabrics for extra comfort for a baby’s sensitive skin.
ConvaTec Little Ones – The Little Ones line offers all the benefits of ConvtaTec’s ostomy products for the needs of children and the preference of their parents. Each pouch is designed to fit the contours of a child’s body and sit comfortably and gently on their skin. Little Ones includes post-operative, colostomy, illeostomy, and urostomy supplies, including some colored prints.
Coloplast ColoKids: Coloplast’s answer to Pediatric Ostomy supplies use the Assura Adhesive Coupling (AC) system that makes it easier to apply the pouch to the barrier. Coloplast offers both 1-Piece and 2-Piece Ostomy systems for Pediatrics.
For ostomates with some bulk and heft around the stoma, the extra skin can fold, increasing perspiration and moving the skin in ways that can loosen the barrier’s hold. The skin can also become more easily irritated in these situations if the barrier does leak, causing skin irritation, rashes, and other unpleasant situations. Thankfully, there are some ways you can mitigate these issues:
Ostomy Paste – Pastes such as the very popular Stomahesive Paste will help fill in any uneven skin around the stoma that can cause leaks or problems with skin barrier adhesion. This makes wear time longer (meaning less appliance changes and money saved) and makes wear more comfortable. Some other pastes are Hollister Karaya Paste, Hollister Adapt Paste, and Coloplast Ostomy Paste.
Ostomy Powder- Powders are helpful to absorb the moisture before placing an Ostomy adhesive or appliance against the skin.
Conformable Wafers – Stomas come in all shapes and sizes. Most skin barriers come pre-cut or cut-to-fit. There are also flexible, conformable barriers such as ConvaTec’s SUR-FIT Natura Skin barriers with Stomahesive, designed to conform and adhere to the contours of the body.
Cohesive Seals – Cohesive seals are moldable donut-shaped, gel-like rings that conform between skin and appliances to help prevent leakage. It’s perfect for hard-to-fit stomas and come in sizes around 4” you can cut down and form to any size and shape you need.
A stoma doesn’t mean an end of an active lifestyle, and a stoma shouldn’t be an excuse to stay off your feet. There are many, many active ostomates running marathons, swimming, climbing, and pretty much doing anything the rest of us do.
Closed Pouches – Closed pouches with a good adhesive will offer waterproof protection for the wearer; perfect for those play sports, run, swim, or enjoy lots of physical activity.
Mini-Pouches – If you’re showing skin in a bathing suit or need something that will stay out of the way and isn’t as visible under clothing, try a mini-pouch such as ConvaTec’s SUR-FIT Natura or the Hollister Premier Mini Pouch.
Strong Waterproof Adhesives – You’ll want a strong adhesive for activewear that can resist breakdown due to sweat and moisture. Many skin barriers and wafers come with some level of adhesive, you’ll have to check the brands and types that work well for your particular stoma. When you’re using strong adhesives, you’ll need a strong remover as well so removing the wafer does not leave your skin feeling “tacky” and irritated. Adhesives such as Osto-Bond and Perma-Type Surgical Cement work well, but equally well are products provided by Hollister, Convatec, and Coloplast (this goes for removers as well).
With some preparation and easy planning, you can quickly decrease the amount of time caring for your ostomy and also decrease the potential embarrassing situations. Here are some ostomy supplies available to add to your list:
Washes, Cleansers, and Wipes – There are a number of incontinence/ostomy related products that work great for situations where a pouch, appliance, or barrier has leaked. These products clean the skin to keep it free of rashes, irritation, and infections that can be caused by skin contact with wastes. Some wipes also have adhesive removers, so you can clean the “tacky” feeling of adhesives and leave the skin soft before you start applying the next skin barrier.
Devrom Tablets – These are over-the-counter and FDA approved tablets for odor control that can be used by those with Ostomy as well as IBS and incontinence. The formula includes bismuth subgallate – simply chewing 1 Devrom tablet with meals will help control internal digestive odor.
Pouch Deodorizer – There are deodorizers for pouches such as Hollister’s m9 Drop Deodorizer that simply needs a few drops in a new pouch before applying to neutralize pouch odors. Similarily, Coloplast makes a product called O.A.D. that with a few drops offers odor protection for up to 8 hours.
Pouch Gas Releases and Filters – For pouches without filters built in, you can easily add an Osto-EZ-Vent that lasts the lifetime of your pouch, allowing for air release. For something that also filters pouches, consider Filtrodor filters from Coloplast which allow you to not only control the odors but how much gas gets released from the pouch.
Room Spray Deodorizers – There are a number of sprays, and while retail store products can mask remove odors, there are a number that are highly effective in neutralizing odors quickly. Bard Medi-Aire Odor Eliminator is a great product, Odor Assassin works great, and so does Hollister m9 deodorizer.
Most vendors of ostomy products provide pouches, wafers, adhesives, pastes, and even some skin products. But, there’s a whole collection of Ostomy products developed by creative and entrepreneurial ostomates who have sought extra convenience, discreetness, and safety.
Here are a collection of some of the products you may not have seen in stores:
Ostomy Armor – Ostomy Armor is a waist belt with a left or right-sided protective shield that fits over the stoma and pouch to protect it. It’s perfect for those who move a lot, preventing pouch punctures, leaks, blowouts, etc. OstomyArmor.com also sells Kevlar and Carbon Fiber pouched covers, so if you ever take a bullet, you’ll probably want it aimed at your Stoma.
My Heart Ties – Attractive, feminine ostomy pouch covers for women. These slip over an Ostomy pouch to make it look less “medical” and more “accessory”.
Ostaway X-Bag Disposable Bags – There are probably other opaque baggies similar to this made for diapers and such, but it’s an easy way to dispose of used Ostomy appliances discreetly and quickly if you’re in public. These baggies are leak-proof, help keep odors contained, and will fit the ostomy appliances of major brands.
Stomico Ostomy Wafer Pliers – If you’re cutting your own ostomy wafers, or cutting them for your patients, you can quickly and easily get a perfect cut with Stomico’s ostomy pliers and changeable cutting discs that measure between 17mm and 43mm.
Ostomy EZ Clean – EZ Clean is a system that fits to your home or apartment’s water supply. It attaches to a drainable Ostomy pouch to flush and clean it out quickly through a tap installed on the top. EZ Clean helps make cleaning out pouches easier, faster and more sanitary.
Osto-EZ-Vent – EZ-Vent is a pouch vent that can be installed on most ostomy pouches, designed for quick controlled relief of gas from an Ostomy pouch without removing it. It lasts for the lifetime of the pouch. (It also works on stoma caps and esophageal fistula pouches.)
This weekend, thousands of survivors and family members for those who have suffered Colon Cancer will gather in Central Park at 10am on Sunday March 28th for an annual walk/run marathon.
The event is sponsored by the Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation, held to raise awareness for Colon Cancer. It is the top colorectal cancer awareness event in the United States and invites participation of thousands from across the country – doctors, nurses, friends, family, and of course, survivors.
The annual event raises funds for screening, prevention, and research for colorectal cancer. Last year over 5,000 participants ran and walked through New York in the 4 mile and 15k events. This year, the emphasis is on colon cancer screenings, encouraging the public to schedule a colon cancer screening.
Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of death, with over 150,000 Americans diagnosed each year. That said, it is preventable and can even be stopped as long as it is detected and treated early enough. It is recommended that adults aged 50 and up begin regular screenings. Those with a family history of colon cancer may wish to start screenings earlier.
Find out more about this weekend’s event, registration, and how to get involved: http://www.coloncancerchallenge.org/
Great Comebacks is a program highlighting those who have conditions leading to ostomy surgery, such as Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, Colorectal cancer and more. They raise awareness to these conditions and Ostomy through the inspirational stories of those who have survived with an ostomy, offering encouragement, hope, and advice to those who are undergoing or experiencing the hardships and sometimes difficult transition after their surgery.
Great Comebacks was founded by Rolf Benischke in 1984, over 25 years ago. Rolf was a former San Diego Charger and has overcome ulcerative colitis. It’s sponsored by ostomy supply manufacturer Convatec and partnered with a whole alphabet soup of Ostomy-related organizations including the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (CCFA), the United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc. (UOAA), the Intestinal Disease Education and Awareness Society (IDEAS), Youth Rally, and the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society.
The ceremony featured two national award winners, first Tony Bell, a former pro bull rider who now works as a camp counselor for youngsters with an ostomy, and Latoya Lucas, an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran who was severely wounded in duty. Their stories give inspiration to those in fear of their surgery or life with Ostomy, and hope to change the perception of ostomy through education to families and friends of ostomates as well.
Tony Bell, awarded the National Great Comebacks award, has struggled with an ostomy since birth. As an adult, Tony became a professional bull rider, even riding in the well-known Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Now pursuing a special education teaching degree and performing in a barbershop quartet, Tony wants to share his success with the whole world and demonstrate to others how an individual can overcome adversity, achieving their dreams at their highest potential.
Latoya Lucas received the Tony Snow Public Service award, an award to honor and recognize individuals who are serving their country and dealing with intestinal disease and ostomy surgery. Latoya was deployed in Iraq at the age of 24 where her squad was hit by two rocket-propelled grenades, leaving her with a fractured pelvis, traumatic brain injury, severe burns, nerve damage and broken bones. Latoya was taken to Washington D.C. where she was underwent surgery, including ostomy for intestines which were irreparably shredded by shrapnel.
Since her life threatening experience, Latoya has written a motivational and inspiring book to express her life experiences called The Immeasurable Spirit: Lessons of a Wounded Warrior about Faith and Perseverance. (You can find this book on Amazon here) The book received the Gold Medal Award from the Military Writers Society of America. She also started a project which contacts wounded soldiers to provide them with encouragement. Latoya has also received the prestigious Purple Heart award and in 2005 was the first female to receive the Military Order of the Purple Heart’s Region V Patriot of the Year award.
Find more stories and information about Great Comebacks on the website: www.greatcomebacks.com.
Nurses and patient caregivers specializing in Ostomy and Continence will want to take interest in this upcoming conference in Phoenix, Arizona on June 12-16, 2010.
From the Press release distributed today:
Whether your professional focus is local, regional, national or international, the principles and techniques specific to WOC nursing specialty are impacted by events and developments that are occurring worldwide. Many of the conference’s sessions are particularly timely given recent world events. These sessions include: Wound Care in Disaster Relief, a panel discussion about the role of wound care nurses in times of earthquakes, war, and natural disasters; Meltdown! Facing Some Realities in Nursing and Health Provisions, an examination of global issues that impact nursing and medical delivery of care; ET Nurses Challenges Around the World, a lecture and discussion surrounding the role of ET nurses in emerging, as well as developed countries; and, Building Bridges: Transcultural Ostomy Nursing, a session dedicated to uniting like-minded WOC-Stoma Care Nurses from many countries and cultures to explore the impact of culture on the ostomy patient.
Website: http://wocn.jointconference2010.org/ (*Update 5/13 – Link No Longer Works)
Found a good Q&A today from Donna Sardina with the question: Do you have any tips for treating denuded skin around a flush stoma?
Flush stomas can have their own unique set of problems, including leaks that cause nasty skin problems and eroding the adhesives on your ostomy appliance.
It’s an unpleasant experience, to say the least. But if you’re sure you’ve done everything right in donning your appliances, here are some tips offered in the article:
1) Use ostomy pouches and inserts with convexity so the stoma protrudes a little more, discouraging leaks and more output into the bag.
2) Use Skin Barrier Powder on the skin before you put the wafer on.
3) Apply an alcohol-free liquid skin barrier to help prevent the barrier from breaking down and protecting the skin, such as 3M No Sting Barrier Wipes and Coloplast Brava Protective Barrier Wipes.
4) If the skin is severely denuded use several layers of powder and sealant to protect the skin.
5) Use skin barrier paste to fill in skin irregularities so you’re getting a firm adhesion of the wafer.
6) Empty pouches when they are one-third to one-half full so the seal doesn’t break.
