Pouch Vent Leaks/Fails - How Do You Prevent Them?

Recently started using a Hollister 1pc (8664) and have experienced a sporadic occurrence of vent leaks or failures where liquid passes through the vent with varying flow rates. Sometimes minor leakage while sleeping and other times as if the pouch had an open hole. Wear time before failure ranges from 1/2 day to 4 days. Is there something I could be doing to prevent this? Otherwise, I am satisfied with the comfort and seal to my skin using this product such that I don't want to switch unnecessarily. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks.

Sounds defective. Contact the maker. They will likely replace it free of charge. You said you recently started using this brand? Why? What were you using before this?

What type of ostomy do you have? The vented pouches really aren't made to deal with liquid. If you have an ileo or much liquid output, it's going to fail. They used to send the little round stickers to block off the vent, and they might extend your wear time a little. Still, if you have much liquid output, you would be better off to just get the same pouch without the vent.

Contact Hollister, tell them the issue. They usually offer a filtered and non-filtered bag of the same model. I'd also inform them of the issue and see about replacement bags at the very least.

Sounds like a faulty batch. Nothing should leak from the filter even if you have a loose output. Report to your supplier; they should replace them or put a piece of Sellotape over the filter if you haven't got time to contact them.

How to Adjust to Life with an Ostomy with Bruce | Hollister

Agree 👆 I use Hollister products and once had a defective batch, which they replaced.

It's not all that uncommon to have a leak through the vent if your output is very loose or liquidy. It used to happen to me with Hollister products. I use a one-piece Hollister myself, and always put a piece of tape over the vent to prevent this from happening. I doubt that your pouches are defective. I would just get pouches without vents, but the ones I like the most only come vented. There is always a 'workaround'!

Terry

Thanks, MMSH. I have an ileo and at times very liquidy output. Thought vent would help while sleeping when sometimes pouch fills with gas that drives seal leakage. Continuing to experiment, but likely no perfect solution.

Hi Warrior, been experimenting with mostly Hollister and Coloplast. Might try ConvaTec next. Hate to give up on Hollister as their convex seems to get me the best wear time. Thanks for the reply.

Thanks TerryLT, I will experiment with using tape when venting might not be necessary.

I'm going to add you might reduce your gas output by cutting grains, cereal, and bread. The bread especially is hard to give up completely, but you might cut these items out of your evening meal and see how much gas it eliminates.

Ask for a sample of the Convatec Convex Active Life. It has a clip versus Velcro but a nice secure pouch. It also has a tape collar that goes around the whole flange. As for gas? I get that too, but I won't do filters because I rinse and the filters smell. I just put a pee pad down under me at night and hope for the best if I get ballooning. So far, no blowout, but I do get up to let air out here and there.

Hi, I find Hollister vents do the same to me. As soon as it gets wet, it leaks. I go the no grain, bread, or pasta route. No gas. The gas pushes the liquid up or down inside the bag, and the vent gets wet. It's a pain. Also, if I use the stickers on the vent, it's guaranteed to leak through the flange. I get up if I feel the bag filling up or if there is occasional gas in it. It's better to get up and take care of a filling bag than a mess. I am really aware of my appendage at night. It bothers me, so if it's active, I wake up. I'm using Convatec now. It's hard to get gas out without a trip to empty it. So, diet, no food close to bed, and watch the liquid intake close to bed also. Hope this helps!