The science of the appliance- Choosing an ostomy appliance is rarely straight forward. For the new patient, a lack of knowledge of means relying on the Stoma Nurse to make an informed choice and educate appropriately. For the Stoma Nurse, many factors make up this choice in order to recommend the most appropriate and functional pouch for the individual. This episode talks about the range of modern ostomy appliances, their general and unique features and the underlying elements that determine how we choose the right pouch for you.

I Heart Guts is a company that sells plush toys in the shape of bodily organs. As a stoma nurse, i see hundreds of patients affected by diseases of the bladder and bowel. So as a light-hearted gesture i want to tell you about how to grab an intestine or bladder plush toy, that in my opinion (and odd sense of nurse-humour) would be a fun, but cute gift.

A urostomy, also called an Ileal Conduit or Urinary diversion, makes a new path for urine to flow through your body. This type of operation results in a tube of small bowel that is removed from the remaining bowel so that it can be used to facilitate the exit of urine from the kidneys and ureters. This episode explores the surgical technique of creating urinary diversions, the historical versions of how this technique was developed, and the features of the pouching systems used to collect urine for emptying.

An Ileostomy is a stoma constructed from either the end or a loop of small intestine out onto the surface of the skin to form an exit for intestinal waste. This weeks episode explores how this type of stoma differs from the colostomy, how it is constructed and its appearance on the body. We also cover what to expect when considering this surgery, and the recommendations for adjusting to life with a small bowel stoma, including diet and pouching options.

Welcome to the launch episode of the OZtomy nurse project, the podcast that explains everything you ever wanted to know about life with a stoma. From the ancient origins of intestinal failure, to the newest techniques of the Mitroffanof, the OZtomy nurse takes you through a journey of discovery into all things ostomy.