Irrigation for colostomized cancer patients: a rational approach.
Management of a colostomy by irrigation is simple and effective. Five hundred and nine patients having a colostomy for rectal cancer during the last 10 years were assessed by our Rehabilitation Department as potential candidates for irrigation. Fifty-two patients were considered unsuitable and 40 refused to learn the technique. The remaining 417 (82%) patients adopted the irrigation method. Of these, 97% achieved full continence of periods of 24 to 48 h. There was no case of colonic perforation. The median duration of irrigation was 230 days; 31.6% had been irrigating from 1 to 5 years and 10.3% for more than 5 years. There was a reduction of more than 50%/24 h in the number of appliances used by patients. Irrigation is a simple, safe and cost-effective means of managing a colostomy. With careful selection of patients, irrigation should be recommended as a routine part of rehabilitation.
Dini
D
D
National Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Oncological Rehabilitation, Genova, Italy.
Venturini
M
M
Forno
G
G
Bertelli
G
G
Grandi
G
G
D003125:Colostomy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors