Stoma Care: How to Irrigate

Here are images that show the steps for irrigating your stoma.

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Step-by-Step

Person sitting next to toilet near hanging water bag with irrigation sleeve opening in toilet and one hand holding cone.

1. Sit by the toilet with the sleeve end in the toilet.

Hand holding end of tubing with cone upright.

2. Hold the cone upright.

Tubing with water in tube above clamp and hand twisting handle to the left on bag tubing.

3. Open the clamp.

Hand holding end of tubing with cone upright and water coming out of cone end.

4. Let water into the tube.

Clamp closed with water in tube.

5. Once water starts to come out, close the clamp.

Arrow showing person placing cone into stoma with water in tube and clamp closed.

6. Place the cone into your stoma.

Cone tip in stoma and person twisting handle on clamp to the left to open.

7. Slowly open the clamp on the tubing.

Cone tip in stoma and arrows showing water flowing through tube and into stoma with clock showing time passing.

8. Let water flow for about 10 minutes.

Clamp closed with water in tube.

9. Close the clamp.

Cone in stoma and water draining from tube with stopwatch showing time passing.

10. Let water drain from the tube for 1 minute.

Cone being pulled away from stoma.

11. Remove the cone.

Arrow showing sleeve top near stoma is folded over wire and toward body.

12. Close the top of the sleeve.

Arrows showing corners of wire folding around sleeve top to close it.

13. Seal the top of the sleeve with the clamps.

Person sitting next to toilet with irrigation sleeve opening in toilet and stool flowing out and into toilet with clock showing time passing

14. Let everything flow through the sleeve for 40 minutes.

Person holding end of irrigation sleeve with one hand and closing clamp with other hand.

15. Close the clamp on the end of the sleeve.

Person pulling sleeve away from skin barrier around stoma.

16. Remove the sleeve.

Person placing small pouch over skin barrier and stoma.

17. Cover your stoma with a small pouch.

Person holding top of sleeve open and under faucet with running water.

18. Clean the sleeve as directed.

Hands scrubbing with soap under faucet with running water.

19. Wash your hands.

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