Closed vs. Drainable Ostomy Bags: Which one should you choose?

After a successful surgery, you can live a stress-free and comfortable life even if the use of ostomy bags becomes your must-do thing. 

The two main types of Ostomy bags are closed and drainable, and as their names suggest, the former is a one-use-type while the latter is reusable. Despite their use, you might wonder which is the best, especially with the tons of online information and several medical experts’ pieces of advice. 

Overall the choice of these pouches is determined by the convenience each offers, your budget, and your daily schedule, among other factors.

Here is a run-down of the closed and drainable Ostomy bags and what each portends for you.

Closed Ostomy Bags

Closed Ostomy bags have only an inlet and no other opening; thus, they can only be used once. They are suitable for people with less discharge. 

The advantage of these bags is that they give you convenience in public places such as parks, schools, or even movies because you can easily change them without creating a mess. 

The change process is easy and hassle-free because no draining is required. To avoid spillage, change your bag when it is two-thirds or half full. All you need is to remove the already filled bag, clean the opening on your skin or the stoma and the landing pad. 

After the cleaning, you need to discard the removed pouch in the trash cans provided, but you can flush (but make sure it is flushable to avoid causing blockages). The next step is to fix a new bag, and the process is repeated if you need a new change.

Drainable Ostomy Bags

These are the complete opposite of closed pouches and come in two different types. Those with no closing mechanism thus need a separate clip or those with an integrated clip. 

Different brands are available in the market, such as Coloplast EasiClose, ConvaTec InvisiClose, and Hollister Lock ‘n Roll, but their working system is similar. 

Their advantages are that the clips are not easily visible when under, they need little strength to open and close, and there is no worry of the clip getting lost. On the flip side, the integrated clips are hectic when cuffing and emptying your pouch. Cuffing is the act of folding the pouch’s tail to ease cleaning and emptying.

However, whether you use integrated or non-integrated clips, the bottom line is that you still need to drain and clean your bag. 

Bottom Line 

The different Ostomy bags provide different conveniences to each individual. There is no one-fit-all pouch, as they all depend on preferences, your budget, and your daily activities.

Despite this, your choice should be majorly based on what type gives you the best convenience. You might start with the one-piece, two-piece, drainable, or disposable one, but it is recommended to try until you settle on the most comfortable one.

The best trial period of the different systems is when you are at home, near a helpful hand such as a family member or a caregiver. Such a setting or environment will help you immediately take correction measures if anything goes wrong.

You can interact with us by sharing your ostomate-use journey, the useful tips you have learned, your preferred ostomate type, and the reasons for your preference.