Which device is used to manage stool from the rectum to protect peri-anal skin?

Which device is used to manage stool from the rectum to protect peri-anal skin?

• A. Barrier paste after stool
• B. External fecal management pouch
• C. Internal bowel management system per rectum
• D. Large bore Foley catheter per rectum

Answer: (C)

The thing being tested is diverting stool at the source to protect the skin around the anus. An internal bowel management system placed per rectum is designed to sit inside the rectum and channel stool into a collection reservoir, so stool is removed from contact with the peri-anal skin. This direct diversion minimizes moisture and irritation on the skin, helping prevent incontinence-associated dermatitis and skin breakdown, especially in patients with ongoing fecal incontinence or severe stool load. Barrier paste after stool protects skin by creating a barrier after stool has already reached the skin, but it doesn’t manage or divert stool from the rectum. An external fecal management pouch sits outside the body and collects stool after it exits the anal canal; while it protects skin, it does not intervene at the level of the rectum itself and can be less effective in certain incontinence scenarios. A large bore Foley catheter per rectum is not used for stool management and could cause injury.

The thing being tested is diverting stool at the source to protect the skin around the anus. An internal bowel management system placed per rectum is designed to sit inside the rectum and channel stool into a collection reservoir, so stool is removed from contact with the peri-anal skin. This direct diversion minimizes moisture and irritation on the skin, helping prevent incontinence-associated dermatitis and skin breakdown, especially in patients with ongoing fecal incontinence or severe stool load.

Barrier paste after stool protects skin by creating a barrier after stool has already reached the skin, but it doesn’t manage or divert stool from the rectum. An external fecal management pouch sits outside the body and collects stool after it exits the anal canal; while it protects skin, it does not intervene at the level of the rectum itself and can be less effective in certain incontinence scenarios. A large bore Foley catheter per rectum is not used for stool management and could cause injury.