The frequency of early stomal, peristomal and skin complications

Br J Nurs. 2021 Dec 9;30(22):1272-1276. doi: 10.12968/bjon.2021.30.22.1272.

Abstract

Background: The incidence of early complications after stoma formation (within 30 days of surgery) is difficult to determine and has been reported to be in a range of 3%-82%.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse the onset of stomal, peristomal and skin complications one month (30 days) after ostomy creation.

Method: This review analysed enteral stoma therapy nurse reports on patients who had an ostomy created between January 2016 and December 2020.

Findings: Complications were analysed according to ostomy type: colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy. There were 1292 incidences of complications: skin complications were the most common (26%), and abscess the least common (0%).

Conclusion: A majority (63%) of patients experienced at least one or more complications within 30 days of surgery. Haemorrhage was reported as a complication (2%) but the authors found no data on its incidence in the literature. In addition to early complications, late complications were detected.

Keywords: Complications; Early complication; Frequency; Haemorrhage; Ostomy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Colostomy
  • Humans
  • Ileostomy / adverse effects
  • Ostomy*
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Surgical Stomas* / adverse effects