Pharmaceutical Care of Gastrointestinal Patients 3 stomas

Question 1

what is a stoma?

Answer 1

1) Artificial opening of your bowel to remove waste

2) Temporary or permenant

Question 2

what are the 3 main types of stoma?

Answer 2

1) Ileostomy – an opening from your small bowel, to allow faeces to leave your body without passing through your large bowel
2) Colostomy – an opening from your large bowel, to allow faeces to leave your body without passing through your anus
3) Urostomy – an opening from your ureters, to allow urine to leave your body without passing through your bladder

Question 3

Discuss the effects of medicines on ostomists ( people with a stoma)

Answer 3

1) Effects of medicines on the bowel may be particularly pronounced in ostomists
2) Effects may be on drug absorption/action or stoma function
3) drug pharmacokinetics might be affected

Question 4

outline the medicines for which pharmacokinetics might be affected

Answer 4

1) Slow release preparations – drug might not be absorbed
2) Enteric coated preparations – drug might not be absorbed
3) Film coatings sometimes excreted in stoma bag
4) Medicines that are absorbed in bowel (depending on site of absorption compared with site of stoma)

Question 5

what advice regarding diet should pharmacists provide ostomists?

Answer 5

1) Encourage to maintain as varied a diet as possible
2) Patient should chew food thoroughly to aid digestion
3) Eat regularly as this helps to regulate stoma function.
4) Drink larger amounts of water and ensure you have enough salt in your diet
- Especially after exercise or in hot weather
5) Note foods that cause a change in stomal discharge
- High-fibre foods can stimulate your gut and give you diarrhoea or may cause a blockage.