Natural evacuation versus irrigation.

The comparison of the influences of the natural evacuation method and the colostomy irrigation method on complaints, daily activities and psychosocial conditions revealed that colostomy irrigation, as compared to natural evacuation, imposes less distress on the patient, causes fewer skin problems and is less of a financial burden. In daily activities, irrigation causes fewer difficulties in comparison to natural evacuation in the areas of bathing and sleeping. Furthermore, the frequency of going outdoors remains at the same level as in pre-operative days and the patients are able to adjust to daily activities post-operatively. By comparing irrigation patients and natural evacuation patients from a psychosocial standpoint, irrigation patients hold a higher degree of self-esteem, have fewer anxieties and fewer worries than those using natural evacuation. The instruction of evacuation control, management of gas odor, and a great deal of psychosocial support needs to be given to natural evacuation patients.