Characteristics of the patient with an ostomy.

BACKGROUND: Complications following intestinal and urinary diversion (OSTOMY) surgery are a significant problem for many individuals. Patient characteristics or risk factors have been associated with the development of ostomy complications, but research in this area is limited.

PURPOSE: To examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of new ostomy patients.

DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING: A convenience sample of 144 new ostomy patients was recruited from a large midwest urban level i trauma teaching hospital system.

METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics in persons with a new ostomy. demographic and clinical characteristics included were age, gender, disposition, diagnosis, ostomy type, type of procedure (emergent or elective), stoma type (temporary or permanent), technique of stoma creation (loop or end), stoma site marked preoperatively, body type, stoma height, and complicating factors. Data were collected through a medical record review and direct observation by the WOC nurse.

RESULTS: Significant differences were found among demographic and clinical characteristics and ostomy type and disposition. Age, type of procedure, reason for surgery, stoma type, stoma site marking, and complicating factors were significantly different by ostomy type. The majority of stomas were not marked preoperatively (67%). Sixty-eight percent of persons with a stoma above skin level versus 38% with a stoma below skin level were discharged to their home. Statistically significant relationships were found among disposition and type of procedure (P = .036), stoma height (P = .003), reason for surgery (P = .000), and age (P = .005).

CONCLUSION: This study provides additional information regarding specific patient characteristics (demographic and clinical) and their relationship to ostomy type and disposition.