Gastrointestinal Health Technologies

by Owen Baylosis

What is an Ostomy?

An ostomy is a surgery performed to redirect stool or urine  out of the body

• Reasons
  • Rectum/ Colon cancer
  • Intestinal injury
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Obstruction
  • Diverticulitis
• Through this surgery, part of the intestine is rerouted through the abdominal wall to create a stoma
  • A stoma is a piece  of intestine that protrudes through the abdominal wall and is used to release waste
  • People with an ostomy will wear an ostomy pouch on the stoma to collect intestinal contents
  • Stomas do not have muscles, so intestinal contents pass into the pouch

Stoma

Types of Ostomies

• Colostomy
  • Stoma is made from large intestine(colon)
  • May be temporary or permanent
  • May be performed for rectal cancer, diverticulitis, or fecal incontinence

• Ileostomy
  • Stoma is made from small intestine(ileum)
  • May be temporary or permanent
  • May be used to treat inflammatory bowel disease or rectal cancer

• Urostomy
  • Ureters are redirected to stoma made from small intestine(ileal conduit)
  • Permanent
  • May be used to treat bladder cancer or urinary incontinence

Non-pouch Procedures

• Ileoanal Reservoir(J Pouch)Colon and rectum are removed
  • Ileum is connected directly to anus, and reservoir collects stool
  • Used to treat polyps in the colon

• Continent Ileostomy(Kock Pouch)Internal reservoir made in ileum
  • Drained via catheter, no bag necessary
  • Very delicate procedure, not common
  • For candidates who aren’t good candidates for ileoanal reservoir or don’t want a pouch

Pouching Systems

• Main pieces are the skin barrier and the pouch
  • Skin barrier is adhesive portion attached to the skin
    • Protects skin and holds pouch in place
  • Pouch holds waste
    • Pouches for Ileostomies and Colostomies can be drainable(washed and reused, changed every 3-5 days)
    • Pouches for Colostomies can also be closed, meaning they need to be removed and disposed of(changed after every empty)

• Many other options as well
  • Filters-to prevent gas buildup, but without odor
  • Material variety-opaque or transparent/soft covers
  • Closure systems-clamps or integrated closure
    • Urostomy bags have a spout as opposed to a closable mouth
  • Skin barrier-can vary in flexibility, shape, adhesive

TIES® System

• OstomyCure, a  company based in Oslo, Norway, claims to have a new technology for ileostomates that removes the need for a bag

Ostomate Lifestyle

• Diet
  • Chew thoroughly
  • Reduce high fiber foods
  • Dehydration is a side effect, so drink regularly
  • May have to avoid foods such as popcorn and nuts
  • Everyone’s body is different
• 750,000 to 1 million  Americans have an ostomy
• While ostomates don’t directly qualify for disability benefits,  according to Social Security Administration, conditions such as IBD do qualify
  • Accessible bathrooms
• United Ostomy Associations of America

Apps used for Gastrointestinal Health

• Apps that track the symptoms of users with digestive disorders
  • GI BodyGuard
  • MyGIHealth
  • Apps that are specific to Inflammatory Bowel Disease
    • GI Buddy
    • myIBD

• PoopMD
  • Allows parents to learn the meanings of their infants’ poop and detect signs of gastrointestinal disorders
  • Can take photos of diapers and analyze color

Sources

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2014, August). Ostomy Surgery of the Bowel.
  Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/ostomy-surgery-bowel

• CliniMed Ltd. (2014.). Urostomy. Retrieved from http://www.clinimed.co.uk/Stoma-Care/Stoma-Types/Urostomy.aspx

• ConvaTec. (2018). What is a Pouch? Retrieved from https://www.convatec.com/ostomy/ostomy-product-information/what-is-a-pouch/

• Healio Gastroenterology. (2016, February). The Digital Doctor: How Technologies Enhance Health Care. Retrieved from https://www.healio.com/gastroenterology/practice-management/news/print/healio-gastroenterology/{77a6549f-2cda-4ceb-9163-ba8ad05c245f}/the-digital-doctor-how-technologies-enhance-health-care

• Osso, M. (2017, December 07). 8 Myths About Ostomies Debunked. Huffington Post. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-osso/8-myths-about-ostomies-debunked_b_8208800.html

• United Ostomy Association of America. UOAA Mission & History l United Ostomy Associations of America.  Retrieved from https://www.ostomy.org/our-mission-history/

• Quinn, D. (2016, June 24). Woman with Ostomy Bag Refused Entry to Bathroom with Disability Access. People. Retrieved from http://people.com/bodies/mother-of-three-with-ostomy-bag-refused-access-to-disabled-bathroom/