All Health Topics

Ostomy closure

May 11, 2012

Procedure

Now that your child no longer needs the ostomy, it can be closed or “taken down.” The part of your child’s intestine that was brought to the outside of his/her belly will be put back inside.  It will be connected as one whole tract.

Incision

Your child will have a cut where his/her stoma used to be. Your child’s cut is closed with sutures, Dermabond, or Steri-Strips.

These sutures, or stiches, will be removed in close to 2 weeks. Your child may take a bath or shower 24 hours after the surgery. Your child may swim after the stiches are removed.

Dermabond is special glue used to close a cut. This glue will come off on its own. Do not scrub or pick at the glue. Your child may take a bath or shower 24 hours after the surgery. After the shower, gently pat the glue dry with a towel. Your child may swim when the glue has fallen off.
 
Steri-Strips are special pieces of tape used to close a cut. These strips will fall off after about 10-14 days from the surgery. Do not pick or pull at the Steri-Strips. Your child my take a bath or shower 24 hours after the surgery. Your child may swim after the Steri-Strips fall off.

Do not put any medicines or creams on your child’s incision. Clean the incision each day with soap and water.

Watch your child for signs of infection. Look at your child’s incision each day. Call your doctor if:

  • The incision has more or “flaming” redness
  • The incision is warmer than the rest of his/her skin
  • The incision has more drainage which is green, foul smelling, or pus-like
  • Your child has a fever of over 101 degrees F or chills
  • Your child has behavior changes, such as being more tired, fussy, or eating less
  • Your child has color changes, such as being red or pale or gray
  • Your child is vomiting or throwing up

Skin care

Your child’s bottom my get sore when stool (poop) begins coming out of it again. Make sure you use diaper cream or a stronger barrier cream around the anus (bottom). This prevents rash or skin irritation. Since your child’s bottom has not been near stool (poop) for a while, diaper rash can be severe. Apply barrier cream with every diaper change. Some examples of barrier cream are Sensicare, Ilex, Triad, Calmoseptine, or BAZA. Call your doctor if the diaper rash is severe or bleeding.

Diet

Your child may return to his or her normal diet at home. It may be a good idea to stay away from foods with lots of fiber. Examples are of foods with fiber are whole grains, raw fruits or vegetables, nuts or seeds. This change will only be for a short period of time after surgery. Most children are able to eat a regular diet soon after surgery.

Activity

If your child is a toddler or an infant, he or she may return to normal activity as comfortable. Keep using your child’s car seat. Keep holding your child as normal.

If your child is older or in school, he or she may return to school. Your child may not do weight lifting, gymnastics, PE, or contact sports for 8 weeks.

Pain

Your child may have some pain after surgery. If the pain is not controlled well with medicines, please call us. 

  • Follow the directions given for the pain medicine. Do not give more than the directions say.
  • Give pain medicine at routine times. Pain is harder to stop after it has started.
  • If your child needed pain medicine during the day, he may need it at night too. This may mean waking him up.
  • Some strong pain medicine has Acetaminophen (Tylenol) in it. If the strong pain medicine prescribed by your doctor has Acetaminophen (Tylenol), make sure you do not give more Acetaminophen (Tylenol). Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be found in other products like cold medicines. Call us if you have a question about these medicines.