Peristomal skin complications: Prevention, treatment and care

Abstract

Stoma creation is a common surgical procedure performed by a variety of surgical specialties. Stoma-related complications occur frequently. Reported rates of stomal complications vary widely in the literature. The impact of these complications on the people ranges from a simple inconvenience to a threat for life. The most commonly encountered stoma complications are peristomal skin problems. Several factors affect the type and frequency of these complications, including the surgical technique and experience, emergency versus elective creation, and issues related with the patient such as age, obesity, diabetes, and ability to care for the stoma. In this article we have provided an overview of the peristomal skin complications commonly seen, in conjunction with the causative factors, treatment and care options, and prevention strategies.