• To refresh your knowledge of the indications for stoma formation and the main types of stoma
• To enhance your understanding of the causes of a high-output stoma
• To be aware of the dietary interventions that can be used to manage a high-output stoma
A stoma enables faeces and flatus to be passed through a small surgically formed aperture in the abdominal wall, and may be temporary or permanent. However, in some cases, the output of a stoma can exceed normal limits. Without appropriate management, a high-output stoma can lead to dehydration, electrolyte disturbances and malnutrition in patients. Interventions to manage a high-output stoma include the use of oral rehydration solutions, restriction of hypotonic fluids and dietary modifications. This article reviews the causes of high-output stomas, and describes the assessment and management options available to nurses.
Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2022.e11941
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Wyer N (2022) Dietary management of patients with a high-output stoma. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2022.e11941
Published online: 28 March 2022
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