title: Stoma management in a tropical country: colostomy irrigation versus natural evacuation.
abstract: People with ostomies in Singapore were initially resistant to colostomy irrigation. This study, a prospective crossover study of 26 patients who underwent abdominoperineal resection, compared colostomy irrigation with the natural evacuation method. During the colostomy-irrigation phase of the study, all 26 patients reported an improvement in continence and fewer problems with sleep, sex, and skin complications compared to the natural-evacuation phase. The study also found a reduction in monthly expenses with colostomy irrigation compared to natural evacuation. Patient satisfaction scores were also superior during the colostomy-irrigation phase. This difference in satisfaction scores was less marked in those who were more than 1-year postsurgery than in those who were less than 1-year postsurgery. The difference in satisfaction between colostomy irrigation and natural evacuation scores was statistically significant in the group that was less than 1-year postsurgery, but not in the group that was more than 1-year postsurgery. The study concluded that colostomy irrigation after abdominoperineal resection is superior to natural evacuation in terms of cost and patient satisfaction and should be introduced soon after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Yunos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003125:Colostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000208:ethnology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012846:Singapore; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D014329:Tropical Climate