Table of Contents
- Accessory
- Adhesive Coupling
- Adhesive Remover
- Appliance
- Barrier Opening
- Baseplate
- Barrier Strips
- Barrier Wipes/spray
- Barrier Extenders
- Belt Loops
- Closed Pouch
- Closure
- Coupling
- Cut-to-fit Barrier
- Deodorant
- Drainable Pouch
- Extended Wear Barrier
- Filter
- Flange
- Floating Flange
- Hernia Belt
- Lubricating deodorant
- Moldable Barrier
- Night drainage
- One-Piece Appliance
- Opaque Ostomy Bag
- Ostomy Bag
- Outlet
- Pouch
- Pouch Filter
- Pouch Outlet
- Pre-Cut Barrier
- Regular Wear Barrier/Standard Wear Barrier
- Skin Barrier
- Stoma Cap
- Stoma Powder
- Stoma Belt
- Stoma measuring guide
- Stoma paste
- Tape collars
- Transparent
- Two-piece Appliance
- Wafer
Accessory
When speaking about ostomy products, accessory usually refers to extra/optional products that are used to amplify an ostomates quality of life. Some examples are support wraps, cloth/decorative pouch covers, stoma guards, support belts, and ostomy garments/underwear. You may see supplies outside of the barrier and bag being referred to as accessories, such as paste, powder, or barrier rings. However, these are often necessary for a good seal and therefore essential for everyday use.
Adhesive Coupling
The portion of a two-piece ostomy pouching system that connects the barrier to the pouch. It uses a strong adhesive, instead of a plastic mechanism, to attach the two pieces together. This can be very helpful for ostomates who have dexterity issues.
Adhesive Remover
This product comes in wipe or spray varieties and is used to assist in easy removal of the barrel from the skin during an appliance change. It is very important to use an adhesive remover in order to maintain healthy and intact peristomal skin.
Appliance
This refers to the entire ostomy bag system — the barrier and bag — which sticks to the body and collects output.
Barrier Opening
The pre-cut hole in the barrier that fits around the stoma. This can be ordered as a pre-cut opening, or a customizable cut to fit the opening.
Baseplate
Baseplates are also known as a wafer, barrier or flange, and is the part of the system that has adhesive and sticks to the skin around the stoma. They come in many varieties, and finding the right baseplate is very important in getting a good seal. As with most ostomy products, it may require trial and error before finding the right product.
Barrier Strips
A product that can be formed to fill in uneven skin before the barrier is applied. This can help to prevent leaks.
Barrier Wipes/spray
This barrier protectant comes in spray or disposable wipe varieties. They are designed to add a protective film over the skin to help prevent irritation. This is applied prior to applying your barrier and is used when implementing the crusting method to heal damaged skin.
Barrier Extenders
These are thin, flexible pieces that are made of the same material as a barrier but come in smaller, easy-to-place pieces. They can be used to extend the size of the barrier and provide extra protection along the edges of the barrier. Generally, they do not help to prevent leaks from happening, however, they can prevent the leak from breaching the barrier and soiling clothing.
Belt Loops
Depending on the brand and system style you are using, you may find sturdy loops on the bag or barrier. These loops are designed to work with an ostomy belt to help keep your appliance held tight to your belly. This can help prevent leaks and give you an added sense of security.
Closed Pouch
A pouching system without an opening at the bottom. Ostomates with less frequent and thicker output may opt to use a closed pouch for convenience. These pouches are not reusable and are thrown away when they reach the desired fullness. They come in 1 and 2 piece systems, but many people find the 2-piece set up the most desirable because they can keep the barrier on for a few days. Generally, these pouches are worn by colostomates.
Closure
This describes the bottom part of the ostomy bag that keeps it sealed until you are ready to empty it. There are a variety of different closures to choose from, depending on the brand, from clips to velcro to spigot forms.
Coupling
This refers to the area on a 2-piece system that joins the barrier and bag together. This coupling can be mechanical, such as plastic click closures, or adhesive.
Cut-to-fit Barrier
These barriers come with the option to cut the opening to a size and shape that fits your specific stoma. This is helpful for an ostomate whose stoma size is still changing, or a stoma that is a shape other than round.
Deodorant
A liquid product that helps to eliminate odor while emptying your bag. You can put a couple of drops in your pouch after each time that you empty your bag. This does not help with odor if your filter is clogged, but it does reduce the odor that would be experienced while emptying the bag.
Drainable Pouch
A pouching system that has an opening at the bottom to allow the ostomate to drain their bag, and then re-close the pouch. This allows the bag to be emptied when needed, but the whole system should be able to be worn for multiple days. Generally, this system works best for ostomates with more liquid output and can be emptied multiple times a day.
Extended Wear Barrier
A barrier that is specifically formulated to deal with the more liquid output. They generally use a stronger adhesive and have the capacity to absorb more moisture. They should be able to be worn longer than a standard wear barrier, which has a lower capacity to absorb moisture and has a more gentle adhesive.
Filter
You can opt to use a style of pouch that includes a filter. This filter’s function is to help release gas buildup from the bag. This filter will look different depending on the brand you use, but they work in a similar way and work to deodorize gas that is released through them using charcoal. These filters are known to get clogged easily and stop functioning, however, no output itself should be able to come through.
Flange
A flange is also known as wafers, baseplates, or barrier, and is the part of the system that has adhesive and sticks to the skin around the stoma. They come in many varieties, and finding the right is very important in getting a good seal.
Floating Flange
A type of barrier that is part of a 2-piece system. This barrier has extra room to allow for an easier application of the pouch.
Hernia Belt
A specialized belt used to prevent hernias while performing strenuous activities, or to prevent an existing hernia from getting worse or causing more discomfort.
Lubricating deodorant
A product designed to reduce the odor of output as well as lubricate the inside of the pouch to make it easier to empty.
Moldable Barrier
This variety of barrier lets you create the size of the opening without the need for cutting. You simply stretch the opening with your fingers to the size that fits over your stoma. This can provide a really great seal around the stoma because the barrier will retract right up to the stoma edges. They do not work great for every ostomate but can be especially helpful for people with difficulty cutting the barrier.
Night drainage
A lake container that can be attached to a specialized ostomy pouch to collect output at night. This allows for a better night’s sleep as they do not need to empty multiple times, and helps to prevent leaks as the pouch is not filling up.
One-Piece Appliance
A pouching system where the barrier and pouch are permanently attached. The entire system will need to be removed to change the appliance.
Opaque Ostomy Bag
An ostomy pouch that is not see-through, but light grey or beige. Generally, it will have a thin fabric covering and a section you can lift to see through to a clear section of the bag.
Ostomy Bag
The bag or pouch that is attached to the abdomen with adhesives to collect stool, mucus, or urine.
Outlet
The part of the pouch that opens up to allow for output to be drained out of the pouch and into the toilet. There are various outlets that perform different functions, such as roll-up velcro outlets and pluggable spouts.
Pouch
The bag portion of an ostomy appliance that holds the urine or stool until emptied.
Pouch Filter
You can opt to use a style of pouch that includes a filter. This filter’s function is to help release gas buildup from the bag. This filter will look different depending on the brand you use, but they work in a similar way and work to deodorize gas that is released through them using charcoal. These filters are known to get clogged easily and stop functioning, however, no output itself should be able to come through.
Pouch Outlet
The part of the pouch that opens up to allow for output to be drained out of the pouch and into the toilet. There are various outlets that perform different functions, such as roll-up velcro outlets and pluggable spouts.
Pre-Cut Barrier
These barriers come cut to the opening size that fits your specific stoma. These barriers should need no additional cutting unless the stoma shape is not exactly round.
Regular Wear Barrier/Standard Wear Barrier
This is the most common type of barrier, and is generally used by ostomates who plan to change their appliance more frequently. These barriers have a lower capacity to absorb moisture and have a more gentle adhesive, so ileostomates and urostomates will generally have better luck with an extended wear barrier.
Skin Barrier
Skin barriers are also known as wafers, baseplates, flange, or simply barriers, and are the part of the system that has adhesive and sticks to the skin around the stoma. They come in many varieties, and finding the right is very important in getting a good seal.
Stoma Cap
A very small ostomy appliance that is worn over the stoma for short periods of time. This is not meant to hold any output as it has a very small capacity, thus is not recommended for ostomates with continuous output. Colostomates who irrigate may opt to wear a stoma cap instead of a bag because they are in control of output timing. These may also be used when managing a mucous fistula.
Stoma Powder
This product is designed to help absorb moisture from around the stoma or damaged weepy skin and can aid in healing those areas. This must be used in conjunction with a barrier spray or wipe to allow the barrier to stick, also called the crusting method.
Stoma Belt
A thin elastic belt that secures to the pouching system through small loops. This belt can help keep the appliance closer to the abdomen and provide peace of mind that it will stay in place.
Stoma measuring guide
A paper or plastic guide that has a variety of holes cut out in different sizes. It is meant to be used as a way to make sure you know what size barrier openings you need. A stoma can change after any amount of time, so checking the size occasionally is recommended. This especially is important if you are noticing more leaks, it may mean that the stoma size changed and you will need different products or to cut your opening to the new size.
Stoma paste
A product designed to be used like caulking around the stoma. It helps to prevent leaks and to make sure no output comes in contact with the skin. It can also be used to fill in creases or wrinkles to provide a nice flat landing area for the barrier.
Tape collars
The outer section of some barriers has an extra set of tape to make it easier to find a good placement before you completely stick the barrier down.
Transparent
A completely clear pouch.
Two-piece Appliance
Apouching system that is separated into two pieces. The barrier is the first piece and sticks to the skin, the pouch is the second piece and has to be manually attached to the barrier. This attachment is either a plastic mechanical coupling or an adhesive coupling. A benefit of a two-piece system is that the pouch can be removed/replaced without the need to replace the barrier as frequently.
Wafer
Wafers are also known as a barrier, baseplate or flange, and is the part of the system that has adhesive and sticks to the skin around the stoma. They come in many varieties and finding the right one is very important in getting a good seal.
