A patient with a colostomy says, "My pouch blows up like a balloon when I pass gas." What is an appropriate response by the nurse?
a. "Make a tiny pinhole in the top of the pouch to let air out."
b. "Remove the pouch and put on a new one when it gets too full of gas."
c. "Empty the gas like you would if the pouch was full of stool."
d. "Peel back a tiny corner of the skin barrier to allow gas to escape."
ANS: C
The pouch should be emptied the same as emptying for stool. A pinhole will allow odor to escape so that should never be done; a new pouch is not necessary and would cost too much; and disrupting the skin barrier often could irritate the skin.
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