A practical ostomy guide. Part one.

Ostomy surgery is a life-enhancing procedure that restores a vital bodily function, but it's not easy to accept. In a two-article package, we'll walk you through the nursing care that will help patients accept the physical changes their surgery entails. In this article, we review the most commonly performed ostomies and the basics of teaching self-care techniques. Next month, we'll look in more depth at the care and education of patients who don't need to worry about changing an external pouch--their condition allowed the creation of a more normal excretory route through an internal pelvic pouch.