Torbot & Parthenon

UOA FACTS AND FIGURES

By: Mary Jane Wolfe, Via: Ostomy Association of Boston, March/April 1999

It is estimated that between 42,000 and 65,000 ostomy surgeries are done each year. Temporary ostomy surgeries now comprise more than 50% of all ostomy surgeries. It is estimated that about 750,000 people in the United States wear appliances. Of the nurses who make up the membership of WOCN, about 80% of their time is spent on wound care and less than 20% devoted to care for ostomates. The average length of a hospital stay for ostomy surgery is 36 hours. Between 30% and 40% of ostomates purchase their supplies through a mail order company. About 5% of colorectal cancer patients require some type of ostomy surgery. About 2% of bladder cancer patients require some type of ostomy surgery. In the past, the UOA has averaged between 6,000 and 8,000 new members each year. In 1999, there were about 2,500 new members. About 45-50% of UOA's income is from membership dues. The average age of UOA's membership is 73 years; 3% are in the 25-39 year age range, 30% are in the 40-65 year age range, and 64% are in the 65-90 year range. Of our members, 35% are colostomates, 35% are ileostomates, 12% are urostomates, 2% have continent procedures, and 16% are non-ostomates. I know that statistics may lie, but I think many of these facts are rather interesting, and I will leave you to form your own conclusions.

Text Box: Sometimes treatment for Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and familial adenomatous polyposis involves removing all or part of the intestines. When the intestines are removed, the body needs a new way for stool to leave the body, so the surgeon creates an opening in the abdomen for stool to pass through. The surgery to create the new opening is called ostomy. The opening is called a stoma. Different types of ostomy are performed depending on how much and what part of the intestines are removed. The surgeries are called ileostomy, colostomy, and ileoanal reservoir surgery. When the colon and rectum are removed, the surgeon performs an ileostomy to attach the bottom of the small intestine (ileum) to the stoma. When the rectum is removed, the surgeon performs a colostomy to attach the colon to the stoma. A temporary colostomy may be performed when part of the colon has been removed and the rest of the colon needs to heal. The removal of the bladder is called a urosotmy. The procedure involves making an opening also called a stoma, to the outside of the body. The urine can pass into a pouch or leg bag.

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