She ordered warm water and a few drops of dish soap—an old nursing trick—and drew it into a large syringe with a soft catheter. Gently, she flushed the stoma, massaging the surrounding abdomen in slow circles. At first, nothing. Then a trickle of brown liquid. Then a small, almond-shaped pellet popped out, followed by a gush of gas and fecal matter that filled the bag in seconds.
It was 3:00 AM when the call came in for Emily, a third-year surgical resident. The voice on the other end was shaky. “It’s Mr. Hendricks, Room 408. His stoma… it’s not putting anything out. And he’s in agony.” blocked stoma
Mr. Hendricks let out a sob of relief. “Oh… oh, that’s better.” She ordered warm water and a few drops
Emily smiled, washed her hands, and turned to his wife. “No more nuts, seeds, popcorn, or raw vegetables until he’s fully healed. And even then, chew everything to mush.” Then a trickle of brown liquid
“It was working fine yesterday,” his wife whispered, wringing her hands. “Lots of output. Then tonight… nothing. And he started vomiting.”