What are the high, normal, and low output ranges for a stoma (stomah, artificial opening) in milliliters per kilogram per day?

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Last updated: May 26, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

High stoma output is generally considered to be greater than 1500-2000 ml/day or more than 30-40 ml/kg/day, while normal output typically ranges from 500-1000 ml/day or approximately 10-20 ml/kg/day in adults, and low output is less than 500 ml/day or below 10 ml/kg/day. The management of stoma output is crucial to prevent dehydration and maintain electrolyte balance. According to the guidelines for management of patients with a short bowel 1, patients with high output stomas should restrict oral hypotonic fluids to less than 500 ml daily and drink a glucose-saline replacement solution to maintain hydration and sodium balance. Key considerations for stoma output management include:

  • Restricting oral hypotonic fluids to less than 500 ml daily
  • Drinking a glucose-saline replacement solution to maintain hydration and sodium balance
  • Adding extra salt to the diet to maintain sodium balance
  • Monitoring output daily and noting significant changes in volume or consistency
  • Maintaining adequate hydration by drinking 2-3 liters of fluid daily, with increased intake during high output periods. It is essential to note that these values may vary depending on the type and location of the stoma, as well as the individual patient's needs, and should be tailored to each patient's specific situation 1.

From the Research

Stoma Output Classification

  • High stoma output is generally considered to be greater than 2000 ml/day 2 or >1.5 -2.0 L/24 hours 3
  • Normal stoma output is not explicitly defined in the provided studies, but it can be inferred that it is lower than high output
  • Low stoma output is not defined in the provided studies

Stoma Output in ml/kg/day

  • The provided studies do not give a specific output in ml/kg/day for high, normal, or low stoma output
  • However, it is mentioned that a high-output stoma can occur when the output is >1.5 -2.0 L/24 hours 3, but this is not normalized by body weight
  • To determine the output in ml/kg/day, the total output in ml/day would need to be divided by the patient's weight in kg, but this calculation is not provided in the studies 4, 3, 5, 6, 2

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Causes and management of a high-output stoma.

Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, 2011

Research

How to manage a high-output stoma.

Frontline gastroenterology, 2022

Research

Dietary management of patients with a high-output stoma.

Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987), 2022

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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