The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society

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New Position Statement on Stoma Marking

ASCRS and WOCN Joint Position Statement on the Value of Preoperative Stoma Marking for Patients Undergoing Fecal Ostomy Surgery

The American Society of Colorectal Surgeons (ASCRS) collaborated with the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society in 2007 to develop a position paper to establish the importance that every person scheduled for a fecal diversion should be marked for a stoma preoperatively by a skilled health care provider. The WOCN Ostomy Subcommittee1 chaired by Jane Carmel led this important activity.

The genesis of the projected resulted from the development of a stoma marking video developed by the ASCRS for their fellowship program.  Several WOC nurses collaborated on this video and the group agreed that this collaboration should continue using the issue of stoma site marking.  The WOCN Ostomy subcommittee chair worked with 8 WOCN members from around the country.  The sub-committee members performed a literature search to support the need for stoma site marking. Most references were found to be international citations and a few limited current studies.  One the literature search was completed, the WOCN subcommittee divided into two groups, one to develop the position statement, the other was charged with developing the procedure for stoma site marking.  The two documents were developed using the existing literature as well as the expert opinion of the subcommittee.

Dr. Ann Lowry of the ASCRS spearheaded the work of the ASCRS and sent the document to a group of identified ASCRS experts.2  After editing was completed and both groups were in agreement with the outcome, the Boards of the ASCRS and the WOCN approved the documents. 

This collaborative project produced a document that supports the need for preoperative stoma site marking and provides a template for the selection of the proposed stoma site that can be used by WOC nurses as surgeons alike.  While the outcome of the paper, reduction of stoma complications and improvement in the quality of life for a person with an ostomy, will need validation, this important first step will guide future research. 

Position Statement on the Value of Preoperative Stoma Marking for Patients Undergoing Fecal Ostomy Surgery

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