title: Constipation and flatulence management for stoma patients.
abstract: The ostomate (person with a stoma) has many issues to overcome when coming to terms with their new stoma. Some of the problems that can be associated with a colostomy are constipation and flatus. The ileostomate may also be troubled with flatulence. Causal factors for flatus may be ingested air or gut bacteria. Constipation may be a result of many factors, including diet and medication. The community nurse is in an ideal position to assist this patient group and this article offers a number of potential treatments or advice that the community nurse can provide for the ostomate. Many of the tips provided in this article are simple but may be potentially effective.
authors: St Marks Hospital, Middlesex. jennie.burch@nwlh.nhs.uk
authors: Jennie
authors: J
authors: Burch
mesh_terms: D000334:Aerophagy / Q000150:complications; D019985:Benchmarking; D015984:Causality; D003125:Colostomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005414:Flatulence / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing; D054368:Laxatives / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009812:Odorants; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013488:Suppositories; D054047:Surgical Stomas; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
chemical_list: D054368:Laxatives; D013488:Suppositories