Patient Education Colorectal Cancer: Your Care and Recovery | Page 48
Types of Systems
Two-piece
The pouch can be changed while the barrier is left attached to the skin. This
is part of a “flange” unit. It includes a closing ring that attaches to a mating
piece on the flange — often a pressure-fit snap ring, similar to that used in
Tupperware®.
One-piece
This consists of a skin barrier and a pouch joined together as a single unit.
While it is simpler to change, you need to change the skin barrier when you
change the pouch, because they are one unit.
System Changes
The type of pouching system that is used in the hospital may need to be
changed as healing occurs. Your stoma may shrink and may need a change
in the size of the opening of your pouch. You may also find that you need
to change the pouching system after you have recovered and are doing your
regular activities.
Make an appointment 4 to 6 weeks after surgery with the Mount Carmel
Health Wound Care Clinic (614-234-6588) to have your stoma measured and
to evaluate your management system.
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