What best describes an ostomy pouch?

• A. It is the skin barrier
• B. It is used to filter air
• C. It is always two-piece
• D. Designed to catch and contain stoma effluent

Answer: (D)

An ostomy pouch is the container that collects and contains the output from the stoma, protecting skin and clothing and helping manage odor. It attaches to a skin barrier that sits on the abdomen and catches the effluent as it exits the stoma. The pouch may be part of a one-piece or a two-piece system, but either way its primary role is containment of the output. Odor-control features or vents may be present, but they do not define the pouch’s main purpose. The skin barrier, not the pouch, is the protective layer on the skin, and while some pouches may have filters, filtering air is not the core function.