Recycling has been shown to improve growth, nutrition and facilitate early stoma closure. We aim to review current practice and nursing experience at a tertiary paediatric surgical unit and to evaluate possible areas for improvement.
Retrospective study of all neonates who underwent a stoma closure between January 2018 and October 2020, alongside a nursing staff survey on experience and barriers to effective recycling. Data presented as median (range) and number (percentage). P value 0.999.
Thirty-nine neonatal nurses responded to the survey with 36/39 (92%) having prior experience of recycling. Time constraints were the main reason nurses felt it was difficult to achieve effective recycling, with some also being worried about causing damage. Increased training and parental involvement were two potential solutions suggested by nurses to overcome these issues.
Despite the known benefits, less than half of our cohort had successful recycling prior to stoma closure. Increased training, development of a uniform policy and involvement of the parents may help to improve the rates of stoma recycling.
