Patient/caregiver was educated on complications with ileostomy as follows: Blockage of stoma: Poorly chewed food with bigger chunks in swallowed portion can increase the risk for blockage of stoma in individuals with ileostomy. Individuals with stoma blockage could present with nausea, vomiting, swelling of stoma with discoloration, and swollen abdomen, thus precipitating an emergency. Chewing the food thoroughly to almost liquid consistency helps prevent risk for blockage of stoma. As chewing thoroughly involves some time, individuals [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on complications with ileostomy as follows: Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance: Individuals on ileostomy lose significant amounts of water and electrolytes in the stool. Fluid and electrolytes are significantly absorbed in the large intestine. So, a stoma placed ahead of large intestine along the length of the bowels, such as in ileostomy, will fail to absorb all the water and electrolytes that normally were destined to get absorbed in the large intestine. As a [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on findings to report to the physician as follows: Poorly chewed food with bigger chunks in swallowed portion can increase the risk for blockage of stoma in individuals with ileostomy. Individuals with stoma blockage could present with nausea, vomiting, swelling of stoma with discoloration, and swollen abdomen, thus precipitating an emergency. Report to the physician regarding symptoms of stoma blockage ASAP for recommendation on relief measures. Individuals on ileostomy lose significant amounts [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on findings to report to the physician as follows: Individuals on ileostomy could develop abdominal pain and discomfort secondary to any complications at the involved bowel segment. Any uncontrolled abdominal pain need to be reported to the physician for further investigation. Poorly measured stomas, improperly cut wafers, and loosely attached ileostomy bags can all lead to stool leakage and accidents. Leakage of stool, frequent exposure of the skin surrounding stoma to moisture, [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on changing the ileostomy bag as follows: A decently fixed ileostomy bag should hold good for 3 – 5 days. Many parameters, such as, skin condition & contour, amount of drainage collecting into the bag, frequency of emptying etc., could determine the duration an ileostomy bag lasts. So, plan to change the bag every 3 – 5 days or as ordered. If the bag comes loose and develops a leakage, it could be [...]