The Incidence of Stoma and Peristomal Complications During the First Three Months After Stoma Creation

Abstract

Stoma and peristomal complications comprise a variety of conditions that vary in frequency, severity, and importance to individuals who have colostomies, ileostomies, or urinary stomas. Differences in study methodology and samples, plus the lack of precise measurement of complications, have all contributed to wide variability in reported prevalence and incidence rates.

This longitudinal, descriptive, repeated measure study was used to describe the incidence of physiologic and anatomic problems of the stoma and peristomal skin, and to examine factors that may be related to these complications. Forty-three adults with stomas from two university teaching hospitals in a major Midwestern city participated. Subjects were evaluated, using clear definitions and reliable measures, two or more times for the presence of complications during the first three months after stoma creation.

Stoma complications occurred in 6 (14%) of the participants, and the only stoma complication that occurred twice was retraction. Although the participants received regular evaluations and care from a specialized nurse, 61% of those followed for three months experienced erythematous, irritated, infected, eroded, or macerated peristomal skin. The highest incidence of skin complications occurred 41-60 days after surgery. None of the variables tested were found to be significant in a model of stoma complications, and few predictors were found for individual peristomal complications.

These results support the need for outpatient follow-up care for individuals with stomas and highlight the need for investigation into new methods of preventing peristomal skin complications.