Peristomal Wounds
Peristomal wounds arise as a complication of post ostomy surgery. These wounds require specified treatments and if signs and/or symptoms, listed below, arise the wound should be evaluated by a medical professional.
Ulceration / Erosion
If the stoma shows signs of inflammation, swelling, and/or uncontrollable bleeding at any point post surgery something is wrong, and the stoma should be evaluated by a medical professional for a possible parastomal hernia or other complication.
Discoloration
It is natural for a stoma to appear shiny and pink or red in color, but if the stoma appears black, white, purple or even brown, there could be a problem with blood flow and the stoma should be evaluated by a medical professional.
Overgrowth
Stomas should naturally shrink as time passes, but if the tissue surrounding the wound begins to encroach on the stoma, it will cause pain, and be granulated in appearance. Your provider can offer solutions to shrink the surrounding tissue back to an acceptable level.
Stomas can have any number of complications even years after the initial procedure and should be diligently monitored.
Treatment Modalities
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Wound Debridement
Wound Debridement is an important part of wound healing. Debridement is the process of removing necrotic or dead tissue that occurs during wound healing. This tissue inhibits the body’s ability to recover and develop new tissue during the healing process, making debridement critical in preparing a wound for quick and efficient healing.
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Infection Control
Infection control is a critical element of any wound treatment. It can only be effective if both patient and care providers are dedicated to the proper infection control practices. Proper clinical infection control practices require the existence of an official Infection Control Program.
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Advanced Wound Dressing
When caring for wounds, clinicians have a wealth of options for bandages and dressings. These options are considered superior to the basic gauze and tape and are referred to as Advanced Wound Dressings. Advanced dressings reduce heal times and decrease risk of infection, thereby reducing drainage.
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Skin Substitutes
Skin substitutes have been used to aid in wound closure for centuries. They also help to control wound pain and replace the skin functions to promote proper wound healing. Skin substitutes come in two varieties, temporary and permanent.
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Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
Negative pressure wound therapy is an option for treating burns, various types of ulcers and other chronic wounds. NPWT uses a dressing that creates a seal over the wound and around tubing which is attached to a pump which will draw out fluid and infection from a wound to help it heal.