A stoma (comes from the Greek word for mouth or opening) is an artificial opening in the abdomen that looks like a red spout. The stoma itself is usually round in shape. It is a pinkish, red colour that has a moist lining similar to the mouth.

The stoma is surgically created to provide an exit for waste matter - urine or faeces. A student with a stoma has no voluntary control over the passing of waste material. Therefore the stoma will have a pouch fitted to collect the waste matter.

Stomas may be necessary due to a number of factors including congenital abnormalities, tumours, injury or trauma.

There are three main types of stoma students may have:

• a colostomy
• an ileostomy, or
• an ileal conduit to form a urostomy.

A colostomy is an opening in the large bowel (colon) to provide an exit for faeces. The piece of colon (large bowel) is brought through the skin onto the abdomen. The new opening that is created is called a stoma.

An ileostomy is an opening in the last part of the small intestine (ileum).

An ileal conduit provides an exit point for urine when the bladder no longer functions properly, or has been removed. A piece of the small bowel (the ileum) is isolated and the ureters are planted into it. One end of that piece of small bowel is then brought out onto the surface of the abdomen to form the type of stoma known as a urostomy. Once the section of the ileum has been taken to form the conduit, the continuity of the bowel is restored and it resumes its normal function.

To change the appliance, this equipment is needed:

• warm water to clean the skin around the stoma
• clean pouch and flange and any skin preparations
• soft paper tissues/ChuxTM wipes or similar
• newspaper/plastic bag for soiled pouch
• small pair of scissors.

Students should come to school with these items in a container/toilet bag for easy access. The equipment needs to be replaced following use.

How to change the appliance:

• ensure everything is at hand before starting
• cut the central hole to fit snugly around the stoma
• clean around the stoma gently and thoroughly with water
• gently pat dry
• apply the clean appliance.

Disposal of the soiled appliance

• empty the contents of the pouch into the toilet
• rinse the soiled appliance (if appropriate), wrap in newspaper, place in a plastic bag and dispose as directed in Medical and personal hygiene procedures.
• pouches are made from plastic materials and cannot be flushed down the toilet, incinerated or buried.