Question

A client with severe diverticulitis is admitted to the hospital for bowel surgery, and a colostomy is performed. Which observation of the stoma would cause the LPN/LVN to reassure the client that the stoma is normal

Answer 1

The stoma should be beefy red.

Explanation:

Diverticulitis is an inflammatory disease of the colon. In case of severe diverticulitis, the part of the inflamed colon is cut through a small hole and stool is made to exit out through the stomach and collected in a colostomy bag.

The stoma is the cut end of the colon where the hole is made. This end should be monitored after colostomy and look for any excessive bleeding or for signs of infection.

Normally a healthy looking stoma is beefy red in color resembling the color inside the mouth.

The LPN/LVN should first observe the color of the stoma to check whether it is normal.