Discharge Instructions: Ostomy Reversal

An ostomy is a procedure in which the colon (large intestine) or small intestine is cut and attached to a hole (stoma) made in the surface of the abdomen. Waste leaves your body through the stoma. This lets the diseased part of the colon or rectum heal. Depending on which part of the colon is diseased, this may be a colostomy or an ileostomy. An ostomy can be temporary or permanent. For many people, a temporary ostomy can be reversed in another procedure called ostomy reversal or stoma takedown.

An ostomy may be created to divert waste around a diseased or damaged part of the colon. This may be done for conditions such as a birth defect, a blocked colon, inflammatory bowel disease, or cancer. If the condition can be treated or cured, the ostomy may be reversed once the colon has healed, usually several months after the ostomy. An ostomy reversal involves reconnecting the bowel and closing the stoma.

Home care

• Right after surgery, you will be on a liquid diet then gradually work up to a soft diet.

• Eat 5-6 smaller meals per day.

• Limit foods that irritate your digestive system or cause gas.

• Limit fizzy drinks, alcohol, and caffeine

• Take short walks daily to regain your energy and help your surgery site heal. Exercise also helps keep your bowels moving.

• Don’t lift anything heavy for 6 to 8 weeks. Don't twist or bend at the waist.

• Shower when your provider says it’s OK.

• You may return to driving and work when your provider says it’s OK.

• Your bowel control may be irregular for a few months after surgery. You may have loose bowel movements or constipation, pain, and possibly some incontinence. These will ease with time. Wearing adult incontinence briefs and protecting your skin are important until then. Clean your anus with warm water after every bowel movement to stay clean. Use a barrier cream to help protect your skin.

• Your doctor may recommend pelvic muscle retraining or biofeedback to help regain sphincter strength.

Wound care

• Check your surgical site for signs of infection such as redness, swelling, foul smell, pain or pus.

• Keep your surgical site clean and dry.

• Keep your bandage clean and dry, change it if it gets wet or dirty

Medicine

• Your provider may prescribe a pain medicine or recommend you take over the counter pain relievers.

Follow-up care

• Make an appointment with your healthcare provider as advised. You may need follow-up tests to check that the colon is healing.

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your provider right away if any of the following occur:

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your healthcare provider

• Pain or tenderness in the leg or arm

• Increased pain, redness, swelling, bleeding, or foul-smelling drainage at the incision site

• An incision that separates or comes apart

• Pain or hardness in your belly that gets worse or isn’t eased by pain medicine

• Nausea and vomiting that won’t go away

• You are not passing gas

• Diarrhea that lasts more than 3 days

• Constipation or inability to pass gas for more than 2 days

• Dark-colored or bloody pee

• Bright red or dark black poop

Call 911

Call 911 if you have any of the following:

• Chest pain

• Trouble breathing