Stoma healing - gauze or packing?

I need some info regarding stoma healing after reversal. I was told two different treatments. One was just to cover my site with gauze until healed. The other was to pack with gauze and then tape. What is the proper procedure?

Hi Rusty,

Not sure I'm following you (I confuse easily). If you had a reversal then you no longer have a stoma..........right? So are you asking how to heal the incision wound left from when they reconnected you? Also not sure what you mean by "pack with". If your stoma was put back inside and reconnected to your bowels then you should only have an incision wound......which should be treated like any other skin wound. Or am I totally missing what you're saying? I would think the gauze is simply to protect the staples or stitches, and maybe provide a bit of cushion if you happen to bump into something. But my take on external wounds is to keep them protected for a few days and then expose them to air as quickly as possible. You obviously don't want to expose the area to anything that could cause an infection, and keeping the area moist potentially helps with reducing the scarring.....but moist is a double-edged sword......and I think at our age scars are pretty cool battle badges..........to be worn proudly. Anyone can get a tattoo. But a scar has to be earned! Anyway, I don't know if I answered your question even in the slightest amount. If I haven't.........sorry about that.

;O)

Bob

Bob, the stoma hole is usually left open to heal on its own, so to speak, and you pack it to absorb the "fluids" and keep it clean.

I recently watched a YouTube video on a reversal, and the girl had to pack the wound with thin packing gauze.

Some wounds are left open to fill in themselves like they did with my surgery wound. Because it's a super deep wound. It'll heal and fill in by itself. The video I saw on reversal, you pack the wound with thin strip gauze.

Staying Hydrated with an Ostomy with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

Really? They leave the hole open? I mean, they have to close the abdominal wall or you'll herniate... so you mean they leave the skin open? Wow... I didn't know that. Very strange. Thanks for clarifying that!

:O)

https://youtu.be/m2Nu765tg7Y;

Or you can look up Vanessa LPZ on YouTube. There should be a video about 12 months ago. It shows her after ileostomy reversal care.

Yeah. It has to heal from the inside out to prevent infections. My radiation wound was the same way. Me, being a big tough guy, thought stitch it up, put some duct tape on it and I'll be good. My ostomy/wound nurse simply said...."It doesn't work like that." I'm pretty sure that was her way of calling me a dumbass. ‍