The importance of oral sodium replacement in ileostomy patients

The main function of the colon is fluid and sodium conservation. In ileostomy patients these colonic functions are lacking. The consequence is excessive loss of fluid and sodium, failure to thrive, and skin excoriation around the ileostomy. Patients with ileostomies require 6-10 mmol/kg sodium per day. With ordinary feeds, infants receive 2-4 mmol/kg sodium; therefore the sodium deficit may be estimated at 4-6 mmol/kg per day. Monitoring of adequate sodium substitution is best carried out by measuring the concentration of sodium in spot urine. Levels higher than 10 mmol/l sodium signify an adequate oral sodium intake. During the initial period of oral feeding, glucose excretion in the ileostomy fluid must be monitored, as glucose-positive ileostomy effluence necessitates additional sodium substitution in order to activate the sodium and glucose cotransport. Thirty neonates with ileostomies were followed-up retrospectively. All patients received a sodium substitution of at least 4-6 mmol/kg orally per day. The 30 patients had a total of 4769 ileostomy-days. All patients were successfully fed orally and most of them nursed at home until closure of the ileostomy.