Rising to the challenges faced by people living with dementia and a stoma

Issues associated with stoma care are not limited to the individual (Black, 2011). The whole team, which will include family members and formal carers, requires education and support from specialist...

A multinational evaluation assessing the relationship between peristomal skin health and health utility

The purpose of this research was to assess the widespread impact of irritated peristomal skin on the health utility and health-related QoL in an adult multinational ostomy population (aged 18 years...

Meeting report: managing peristomal skin complications

The chair opened the discussion by inviting the panel members to estimate how often they saw peristomal skin-related complications in their daily practice. One delegate mentioned that up to 80% of...

Considerations for the management of enterocutaneous fistula

ECF can result in intestinal failure (IF), which is often fatal if not managed properly (Adaba et al, 2017). This is when the gut function is reduced so far it falls below the minimum necessary for...

Keeping an open mind and embracing change

Educating patients in stoma care

Patients preparing for life with a stoma will often be anxious and need help to adjust to, and accept, its presence (Lim et al, 2015). A preoperative meeting is organised with the SCN to help prepare...

Peristomal skin damage: assessment, prevention and treatment

The skin has three layers—the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue—which all absorb, excrete, protect, secrete, thermoregulate, produce pigment, perceive senses and provide a safe environment..

From staff nurse to nurse consultant

Continuing professional development, keeping updated, attending a course, writing an assignment, being mentored by a specialist practitioner are all straightforward, logical and, if we are honest with...

Respecting clinical skills

‘Observe, record, tabulate, communicate. Use your five senses. Learn to see, learn to hear, learn to feel, learn to smell and know that by practice alone you can become expert.’ .

A matter of confidentiality

Risk factors for the development of oedema and lymphoedema

The appearance of oedema is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. The cause is therefore associated with the patient's medical diagnosis or, in the case of cancer-related lymphoedema,...