A nurse is working with a patient who is learning to care for a continent ileostomy (Kock pouch). Following the initial period of healing, the nurse is teaching the patient how to independently empty the ileostomy

Question

The nurse should teach the patient to do which of the following actions?
A) Aim to eventually empty the pouch every 90 minutes.
B) Avoid emptying the pouch until it is visibly full.
C) Insert the catheter approximately 5 cm into the pouch.
D) Aspirate the contents of the pouch using a 60 mL piston syringe.

Answer 1

Ans: C
Feedback:
To empty a Kock pouch, the catheter is gently inserted approximately 5 cm to the point of the valve or nipple. The length of time between drainage periods is gradually increased until the reservoir needs to be drained only every 4 to 6 hours and irrigated once each day. It is not appropriate to wait until the pouch is full, and this would not be visible. The contents of the pouch are not aspirated.