After Ostomy Surgery - Pouches, Bags, and Appliances

 Pouches, Bags, and Appliances are names used for the thing attached to the body for collection of stoma drainage. There are many different discussion on how long they last, from my conversations with fellow Ostomates, the length a system is expected to last is very personal. The length or shortness of the stoma, and the types of skin can have completely different out comes for everyone. Flange, wafer, barrier or faceplate refers to the device that fits around the stoma and protects the peristomal skin from the effluent coming from the stoma.

One-Piece Ostomy System is one in which the flange is attached to the pouch its self. These kinds of systems are great after surgery as the abdomen is still quite tender and not a lot of pressure is needed to attach the system to the patient.
 

One Piece Closed- These need to be replaced when the bag is full.  Which can be a few hours, with a ileostomy making them for short term use. Or if you have a colostomy and you irrigate this would work for you too.

One Piece Open- These drainable ones have a opening on the bottom end where you drain the stoma output, and use a clip to close the end up between wearing.

Two-Piece Ostomy System is one which uses two separate pieces are joined together like Tupperware. The two pieces consist of a flange which is attached to the skin, and a pouch which snap together at the faceplate.  These systems require a great deal of abdomen strength to securely attach the two pieces together. I would not recommend them for anyone just out of surgery or still has pain in that area. The difference with these and the one piece is that you can use the same flange for a few days with a new bag everyday or when needed.

Two Piece Closed - When the pouch is full the Tupperware seal needs to be broken and the bag emptied. The disadvantage with this is that it does take practice to empty it in such a way that there is no mess made when emptying it. The advantage is that if the seal is made properly then you do not have to deal with the clip. "I use this system, clips have gotten better over the years, but for me I had enough embarrassing moments from clip failure that I would not risk it."

Two Piece Open- These drainable ones have a opening on the bottom end where you drain the stoma output, and use a clip to close the end up between wearing.

Barrier creams, lotions and powders are products developed to put on skin to make the
skin prepared for the application of the barrier.   They are not to be confused with flange, wafer, face plates, or barriers themselves.

Deodorants are a life saver, they work great.