Current Status of Stoma Researches in Korea

Stoma operations are one of the most frequently performed operation by the colorectal surgeons. And the consequences of the stoma operation of the patients are well known. However, most colorectal surgeons who performed stoma operation were not aware of the problems that are part of the rehabilitation of the ostomates. In order to elucidate the current status of the stoma studies in Korea, literature reviews were performed by using the Korean medical literature database. Most of the Korean literatures written by the colorectal surgeons are related with the postoperative complications of stoma surgeries. Very few papers are concerned with rehabilitation issues including postoperative adaptation of ostomates, quality of life, and stoma nursing care. Recently, more and more papers concerning the stoma rehabilitation issues were published and the interests in the patient's adjustment to a change in body function are growing. Stoma rehabilitation program should be the part of the nations' welfare program which would be successful with the active participation of the colorectal surgeons, enterostomal therapists and ostomates. We, colorectal surgeons, and the Korean Society of Coloproctology should do the major role in stoma-related researches and cooperate with the enterostomal therapists and ostomates organizations in order to establish and develop the stoma rehabilitation program in Korea.

Survey on Satisfaction of Ostomate according to Colostomy Irrigation

The colostomy may cause considerable discomfort as well as surgical, psychological and esthetic problems. The ostomates probably suffer most from fecal incontinence, even though many attempts have been made to eliminate the problems related to the spontaneous colonic emission. Hence the aims of this study are to survey ostomates' satisfaction with colostomy irrigation. METHODS: This medical survey attempts to assess the degree of satisfaction that ostomates are satisfied with the quality of their lives and the extent to which they are affected in doing their jobs and sexuality. The survey was conducted for 146 ostomates, who responded to the questionnaire at the 3rd & 4th Workshop for Stoma Rehabilitation for Ostomates in 1998 and 1999 developed by the Department of Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital. The irrigation group was formed with 66 cases (45.2%) and the non-irrigation group 80 cases (54.8%). In assessment of the satisfaction of sexuality, the irrigation group was composed of 37 cases (male: 22 cases, female: 15 cases) and the non-irrigation group 48 cases (male: 30 cases, female: 18 cases). RESULTS: It is found out that the ratio of male to female is 1.5:1 (97:59) and by the age distribution, the ostomates in their 50's and 60's constitute 67.1%: by the cause of stoma operation, malignancy consists of 133 cases (91.1%), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) 6 cases, the others 7 cases. As for the degree of the satisfaction of ostomates for their life quality, it is found that 52 cases (78.9%) of the irrigation group and 71 cases (88.8%) of the non-irrigation group (p0.05). As for the degree of the satisfaction of the ostomates for the sexuality in male, dissatisfaction is revealed in 13 cases (59.1%) of the irrigation group and in 23 cases (76.7%) of the non-irrigation group (p<0.05). In the case of female, the dissatisfaction is observed in 8 cases (53.3%) of the irrigation group and in 13 cases (72.2%) of the non-irrigation group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This medical survey clearly shows high dissatisfaction rates especially in the non-irrigation group, and the better significant satisfaction was shown in the quality of life and sexuality between the male and the female in the irrigation group. Therefore, colostomy irrigation may be an effective method for the management of colostomy.

A Survey II for Satisfaction for Stoma on Ostomates

PURPOSE: This survey was designed to acknowledge that it is necessary to rehabilitate ostomates. METHODS: This medical survey attempted to make an analysis of the types and causes of stoma, the problems stemming from the stoma, the degree to which ostomates are satisfied with their life quality, and the extent to which they are affected in doing their jobs, on the basis of the examinations conducted for eighty eight ostomates, who responded to the questionnaire at the 3rd Workshop for Stoma Rehabilitation for Ostomates on August 29, 1998 by the Department of Surgery, Kyung-Hee University Hospital, or who replied back to the questionnaire that was sent by mail. RESULTS: On examination, it was found that the ratio of male to female was nearly 1.5:1 (53:35); by age distribution, the ostomates in their 50 and 60's constituted 65.9%; by stoma pattern, colostomy was made up of 81 cases (92%), ileostomy 4 cases (4.5%), urostomy 2 cases (2.3%); by duration, permanent stoma was 81 cases (92%), temporary stoma 6 cases (6.8%); by the cause of stoma operation, malignancy consisted of 78 cases (88.6%), IBD 4 cases (4.5%), congenital anomaly 1 case, car accident 1 case, benign bladder disease 1 case, intestinal obstruction after radiation therapy 1 case, but 2 cases were not identified. Besides, it was also examined that, regarding the degree of post-operation satisfaction for stoma, dissatisfaction amounted to 58 cases (65.9%); as for the problems stemming from the stoma, skin irritation or injury reached 30 cases (34.1%), discomfort for stoma location 17 cases (19.35%), parastomal hernia 8 cases (9.1%), stoma retraction 4 cases (4.5%) and disease recurrence 3 cases (3.4%); as for the degree of the satisfaction of ostomates for their life quality, dissatisfaction revealed 70 cases (79.5%); regarding the extent to which the ostomates are affected in doing their jobs, fifty four out of eighty eight ostomates (62.0%) had a disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: This medical survey clearly shows that most of ostomates suffered from stoma in their daily lives and doing their occupations, thus they need helps from the experts such as colorectal surgeons and enterostomal therapists, or the ostomy association. In addition, it is also necessary to pay a more deliberate attention to determining the location of stoma.

A Survey on Ostomates With the special reference to physical, psychosocial and sexual problems

The survey was undertaken among the 105 ostomates who attended the 2nd Workshop for Stoma Rehabilitation on Aug. 30th, 1997 by the Department of Surgery, Kyung-Hee University Hospital to assess the physical, psychosocial and sexual problems with a stoma. The 97% of ostomates had permanent colostomies following abdominoperineal resection. The 67% of ostomates had one or more physical problems caused by stoma. Frequent bowel movement (94.3%), impairment of irrigation (64.6%), unpleasant odor (27.3%), and urinary frequency (21.3%) were common problems encountered by ostomates. Concerning the psychosocial problems, 3.8% of them suffered from profound restriction of social activities and 1.9% of them had psychologic problems such as depression. 42 of 58 ostomates (72.4%) who were employed before operation returned to their work. Among 71 men, 44 (62%) were impaired by sexual function. Most ostomates suffered physical, social, psychologic and sexual problems in their daily life and needed helps of experts such colorectal surgeons, enterostomal therapists, and ostomy association. Attention is needed more to improve the quality of life for the ostomates.