Ceramide-Infused Skin Barrier for Use Following Ostomy Surgery

This narrative review summarizes published data regarding a ceramide-infused skin barrier intended for use in patients who have undergone creation of a fecal or urinary ostomy (colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy). A randomized clinical trial (ADVOCATE) found that the mean total ostomy-related costs of care over a 12-week period were 14% lower among patients randomized to the ceramide-infused skin barrier than among control barriers. Study findings further suggested that the ceramide-infused skin barrier reduced the incidence of peristomal skin complications. Economic models, based in part on findings from the ADVOCATE trial, suggest that the ceramide-infused skin barrier is cost-effective versus other ostomy barriers from a per-patient perspective, and it is associated with cost savings for payers from a population perspective. Information from several studies, both randomized trials and observational studies, indicate quality-of-life benefits and relatively high levels of patient satisfaction associated with the ceramide-infused skin barrier. Collectively, available data indicate that, relative to other skin barriers, the ceramide-infused skin barrier is a cost-effective and cost-saving option that also provides quality-of-life benefits for patients who have undergone ostomy.