Peristomal skin disorders in patients with intestinal and urinary ostomies: influence of adhesive forces of various hydrocolloid wafer skin barriers.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the adhesiveness of hydrocolloid wafers and its relationship to physical damage of the underlying skin.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
All subjects received ostomy care at the Tokyo Ostomy Center and outpatient departments of 4 hospitals in Tokyo, Japan. One hundred ninety-four of 917 patients receiving care over a 23-year span agreed to participate in the research. Subjects met 2 inclusion criteria: (1) ostomy management was performed using a combination of skin barriers and an adhesive ostomy pouch; and (2) the patient's medical file and color photographs were available, allowing analysis of the peristomal skin over time.


METHODS
Photographs were taken with an Olympus (OM2) camera equipped with an Olympus macro lens and a ring flash.


METHODS
We analyzed the impact of the adhesive force of various hydrocolloid wafers on the underlying skin. Photographs were digitized and systematically examined the peristomal skin exposed to regular use of skin barriers. The observation period varied among individual patients, ranging from 1 week to 30 years after surgery.


RESULTS
The incidence of dermatologic changes (active, inactive, and area cutanea changes) was lower in patients who used skin barriers with adhesive force of not more than 2 Newtons(N) than among those using higher forces (>2 N). Specifically, there was a significant difference in change of the area cutanea. The incidence of papules and erosion was unrelated to the adhesive force of skin barriers.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the peristomal skin is irritated by repeated peeling, resulting in physical damage to the horny layer of the skin. The presence of papules and erosion was not associated with the adhesive force of skin barriers. This finding suggests that these changes are associated with an inflammatory process, possibly caused by chemical substances within the skin barrier.
Omura
Yuko
Y
Tokyo Ostomy Center, Tokyo 141-0031, Japan.
Yamabe
Motoko
M
Anazawa
Sadao
S
D000269:Adhesives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003125:Colostomy / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy / Q000451:nursing; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010030:Ostomy / Q000451:nursing*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014547:Urinary Diversion / Q000451:nursing
D000269:Adhesives