Cleansing the Stoma
The stoma should be cleaned every 4 to 8 hours.23
The skin should be inspected for indications of irritation
or infection, such as erythema, pain, or dried secretions.
Erythema often occurs because of the continued presence
of moisture against the skin. Patients with copious secretions
often require frequent dressing changes to keep
the skin dry and
prevent maceration
of tissue
and skin breakdown.
Gloves
should be worn
for cleansing the stoma. Cotton-tipped swabs or a gauze
pad and physiological saline are applied in semicircular
motion, inward to outward. Dried secretions can be loosened
with diluted hydrogen peroxide and then rinsed
away with physiological saline.16