What Is a Colostomy Bag? Types, Changing, and Care

A colostomy bag is a plastic pouch that collects stool from an opening in the abdominal wall called a stoma. Doctors create a stoma during colostomy surgery to treat cancer, colon problems, or other health issues affecting the lower bowels. People may need to wear a colostomy bag permanently, or it may be temporary while the colon heals or recovers from an injury or disease.

What Is a Colostomy Bag?

A colostomy bag is a plastic collection pouch that attaches around a stoma in the abdominal wall and collects stool. Doctors create a stoma during colostomy surgery to treat cancer, colon problems, or other health issues that affect the lower bowels.

What Types of Colostomy Bags Are Available?

Colostomy bags come in one-piece and two-piece systems, and each type has its own benefits and drawbacks. A doctor recommends a bag based on the patient's needs and the type of stoma the patient has. In a one-piece system, a skin barrier fits around the stoma, and the patient removes the base plate and changes the bag when the bag is full; some one-piece systems also use flushable liners in place of the bag.

In a two-piece system, the base plate and the pouch are separate. A patient can fill the base plate with water, and the water helps wash out the stoma before the patient puts on a fresh pouch. A two-piece system may use a reusable pouch that is changed every few days, or a closed pouch that is emptied twice a day. Special liners can also be added to some of these bags to prevent leakage.

When Is the Best Time to Change a Colostomy Bag?

The best time to change a colostomy bag is when bowel activity is usually lower, such as in the morning before eating or at least 1 hour after a meal. Clothing designed for ostomates, such as high-rise pants and underwear with a pocket that holds the pouch, keeps the bag comfortable and secure.

What Clothing and Accessories Help Ostomates?

Women can buy swimwear with a mesh lining that helps hide the pouch. A wide variety of ostomy-specific underwear is available, including bras and panties with gathered fabric that hides the bag from view, and a colostomy panty with a zipper lets the wearer change the pouch easily. An ostomy nurse can teach patients how to use these products and can share financial resources that may help pay for colostomy supplies.

Where Does Guangdong Kody Packaging Fit In?

Guangdong Kody Packaging (Dongguan Kody Plastic Products Co.,Ltd. / Guangdong Kody Packaging Products Co.,Ltd.) manufactures plastic packaging products and provides custom bag packaging production for customers across industries. The pouch body, liner, and sealing structures used in colostomy bags are common forms in flexible packaging manufacturing.

Q: Does a colostomy bag have to be worn forever?

A: A person may need to wear a colostomy bag permanently, or a colostomy bag may be temporary while the colon heals or recovers from an injury or disease. The doctor decides whether the colostomy bag can be removed.

Q: Does a colostomy bag interfere with daily activities?

A: Colostomy bags are easy to use and do not interfere with most activities, but they can take some getting used to. A healthcare team teaches the patient how to use new supplies and care for the stoma, and telling friends and family before surgery helps them understand a patient's need for privacy while adjusting.

Q: How often should a colostomy bag be changed?

A: A colostomy bag is best changed when bowel activity is lower, such as in the morning before eating or at least 1 hour after a meal. In a two-piece system, a reusable pouch is changed every few days, while a closed pouch is emptied twice a day.