Achievement of stomal continence in one-third of colostomies by use of a new disposable plug.

A multicenter trial was established to assess the use of a new disposable colostomy plug in achieving stomal continence during four weeks in patients with established colostomies. Forty-six of the 100 patients evaluated completed the trial, of whom 41 stated that they would wish to use the system regularly. Twenty-nine of the 41 continue to use the plug daily since the trial finished. The remainder withdrew mainly during the early stages of the trial because of leakage (ten patients), discomfort (11) or difficulties (12), all largely related to extrusion of the plug from the colostomy. There were no discernible features to predict in whom the plug was beneficial. Patients who irrigated the colostomy retained the plug longer (16.5 hours), on average, than those with natural evacuation (8.5 hours). However, even in the latter, the time increased with use of the system (week 1, 7.5 hours; week 4, 9.8 hours). Longer periods of retention of the plug appeared to be associated with improved stomal continence. Results from this trial confirm the potential of the Conseal Colostomy System incorporating a disposable colostomy plug to restore continence and improve life-style in more than one-third of patients with colostomies.