When you receive the news that you need a colostomy bag, you will probably also hear "drainable" at some point. But what does this mean? Does it mean that there are bags that are not drainable? Or is a drainage bag one thing and a colostomy bag quite another? In this article we will explain what your doctor is referring to and give you the information you need to purchase the right bag for your needs.
Colostomy bag drainage
Following a colostomy changes the way the body functions because it changes the way stool is eliminated. Now the waste passes from the intestine to the colostomy bag. We can say that instead of going to the bathroom, the pouch collects the waste from the body.
When we talk about draining a colostomy bag, we are referring to the moment when the bag is emptied. There is no need for an additional attachment, nor is it necessary for the bag to be connected to any type of machinery in order for the user to empty it.
So, in theory, we could say that all colostomy bags are drainable. Once they are full, we can drain the contents so that they are empty again. So right off the bat the confusion could remain as to whether a drainable bag is needed or not.
Another way to get to the heart of the matter is to differentiate between closed and open bags.
The closed colostomy bag
One of the main characteristics of colostomy bags is that they usually have no outlet for evacuating stool. For this reason they are also called closed pouches.
This is because people who have had a colostomy normally pass stool once a day. Therefore, the user only needs to change his pouch once a day, when the pouch is half full.
Open colostomy bag
When the waste is liquid, open bags are often used. These have an opening at the bottom so that the stool can be emptied without having to change the bag. They are similar in shape to hot water bags.
This type of bag can have different types of closures:
- Clamp: It is the classic and preferred by many people for the security it provides.
- Integrated closing: There are models that include an opening/closing system that allows the bag to be closed without the need for a clamp, but with the same security as the clamp.
One-piece and two-piece bags
We cannot forget that there are bags with different types of parts. In general, we can distinguish between one-piece and two-piece bags.
- One-piece: It is the bag that has the skin barrier integrated in such a way that they cannot be separated.
- Two-piece: In this case, the skin barrier is separated from the pouch. Then the barrier is attached to the skin and subsequently the colostomy bag is attached to the skin barrier.
What changes in this case is from where the pouch attaches to our body, so what changes is the way we take it off and put it on. The drainage of the colostomy bag will depend on whether it is open or closed.
When should each type of bag be drained?
If we use two-piece bags, it is necessary to change the skin barrier when there is suspicion of leakage, contamination or when it starts to peel off. If the skin barrier remains in good condition, we can keep it for 3 or 4 days attached to the skin and only change the bag.
When the pouch is in one piece, it is advisable to change it daily. As this type of pouch includes the skin barrier, it is necessary to be very careful with the skin area surrounding the stoma so as not to irritate it unnecessarily when changing the pouch.
Do you need a drainable colostomy bag?
The answer to this question will depend on your doctor's indications and the advice you may receive to find a pouch that suits your stoma, the nature of your colostomy and your lifestyle. However, by knowing the different types of colostomy pouches on the market we can see that when they talk about a drainable pouch they are generally referring to an open pouch, like the ones you can find in our online store.
