Stoma Paste is a very useful tool when trying to provide a uniform surface for the placement of wound VAC drape over uneven surfaces. Uneven surfaces include skin folds, incision line deformations, or anatomical irregularities related to surgery or trauma. There are many brands of stoma paste available, but I have had good luck with Convatec and Hollister Brands. I recommend using the following process to prevent the paste from doing what it does best – sticking to everything.
1. Prewarm the past in a tray of warm water for a few minutes to make the paste less thick
2. Squeeze a little paste out on the clean side of the opened VAC kit package (let it sit for about a minute).
3. Pour a little water or normal saline into an appropriate container.
4. Dip into the water with a wood depressor or the back of the 10 blade scalpel (that you are using to cut the VAC foam)
5. Take up the stoma paste with the moist utensil surface and place it into the uneven surface. Leaving the top of the stoma paste even with the corresponding topside tissue. If you need to add more paste remember to re-moisten the utensil or else it will stick fast to the applicator.
6. Smooth out the paste between the inserted stoma paste with the corresponding topsided tissue by re-wetting the utensil and gently moving across it surface.
7. Wait a few minutes for the paste to firm and then apply the VAC drape over it. If you don’t wait for the stoma paste to firm up the VAC suction could pull it in, which could loose the seal.
Matthew Livingston R.N. C.W.S.
December 20, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Very useful information… Thanks for sharing!!