Leaking is a common problem that affects people with colostomy bags. Your bag may leak for many reasons, such as wearing away of your skin around your stomach or allowing your bag to become too full.
A stoma is an opening in your abdomen that allows stool or urine to collect in a pouch outside of your body. Doctors make this opening with a procedure called an ostomy surgery.
About
A colostomy is a type of stoma where your large intestines deliver stool to a colostomy bag. People
If you notice a leak in your colostomy bag, it’s important to replace the bag and clean your skin to avoid irritation.
Read on to learn more about what you should do if your colostomy bag is leaking and what may cause your colostomy bag to leak.
Leaking of a colostomy bag is a common problem that has been reported in anywhere between
In an
You may notice a foul odor coming from your colostomy bag if there’s a leak. Your coloscopy bag normally shouldn’t produce an odor since
Leaking may also cause noticeable stoma output on your skin or on the backplate.
If you have reoccurring leakages, you may develop
- skin irritation
- thickened patches of skin
- small bump
- skin soreness
- itchiness
Your colostomy bag may leak for many reasons:
inappropriate ostomy placement during surgery- poor fit of your colostomy bag on the stoma
- moist or irritated skin, which disrupts the seal between your skin and the bag
- lack of protrusion of your stoma over your skin, which may allow stool to get under the seal
- wearing an coloscopy bag for too long without changing it
- overfull colostomy bag
- trapped gas causing the bag to expand
Risk factors
- having emergency ostomy surgery
- not feeling confident to contact your doctor about problems
- having a diagnosis other than bowel cancer
- higher body mass index (BMI) score
Women report leakages about
If you develop a leak, it’s important to remove the bag and wash your skin to avoid irritation. You can rinse the bag under running water and examine it for signs of physical damage.
It’s important to contact a doctor if you develop leaks, especially if they’re an ongoing problem.
You may be able to prevent stoma leakage by:
- using an ostomy belt for additional support
- speaking with your doctor if your stoma is level or below your skin (they may recommend changing from a standard to a convex barrier)
- having your stoma measured regularly (the size of your stoma may change in the weeks after surgery)
- applying the adhesive skin barrier to your skin when your skin is dry, clean, and shaved
- speaking with your doctor if you have any skin issues around the stoma
- emptying your pouch frequently
- speaking with your doctor about dietary changes you can make to reduce gas
- using a pouch lubricant to help with pancaking, which is when the sides of the pouch stick together and cause a blockage
- making sure your supplies aren’t damaged or expired
It’s a good idea to contact your doctor if you develop a leak so you can figure out the underlying cause.
Leakage is a common problem for people with colostomy bags. A leak may cause a detectable odor and irritation to the skin around your stoma.
It’s important to report leaks to your doctor to make sure the underlying cause is identified and managed properly. Some of the most common causes of leaks include overfilling your colostomy bag, an improper fit, or wearing your colostomy bag for too long without changing it.
