OBJECTIVE: Performing a literature review about four technical aspects related to the colostomy irrigation: volume of water to be infused, postoperative moment to start the method's training sessions, maintenance of a 24-hour interval between the colostomy irrigations, and time spent for the execution of the procedure, aiming to contribute for the most adequate systematization of the method. METHODS: After searching in the designated sources, sixty-three articles were identified. RESULTS: It was observed that there is no consensus among the several authors: the volume of infused water varied from 500ml to 1500ml, although, in the clinical practice, the average infused volume is 1000ml; the postoperative moment to start the training sessions varied from five days to six months; the maintenance time of a 24-hour interval between the colostomy irrigations varied from two weeks to six months; time spent in the execution of the procedure varied from 20 to 90min. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of these results may be an encouragement to the nurses, especially stomatherapists, to reevaluate their practice, in order to standardize the technical aspects related to the procedure, having as basis the specialized assistance.
Colostomy; Nursing care
