Considerations for managing stoma complications in the community

Complications related to stoma surgery can occur immediately post surgery or following discharge from hospital, and will either resolve spontaneously or become a difficult management problem for both the stoma patient and healthcare practitioner. In the early stages of rehabilitation, the patient with a stoma relies heavily on the expertise of the healthcare practitioner to assist them in returning to the lifestyle they once enjoyed. Literature acknowledges that adjustment to life with a stoma depends largely on whether complications following the creation of a stoma are persistent (Bekkers et al, 1996; Taylor, 1999; Cottam and Richards, 2006). Evidence demonstrates that prolonged unresolved stoma problems hinder adaptation and adjustment to the stoma (Bekkers et al, 1996; Williams et al, 2010), therefore, it is important for the healthcare practitioner to be well informed and skilled regarding common stoma problems. This article aims to highlight common stoma complications and offer guidance on evidence-based management of such problems to inform healthcare practitioners working in the community setting.     

The management and care of people with stoma complications

There are a variety of complications that are associated with stomas. These are described and their causes explained. A number of solutions are presented and advice that the nurse can give is offered. Some of the complications are commonly seen by the nurse, such as sore skin, whereas others are rare, such as an allergy to the stoma appliance. There may be sexual dysfunction after surgery, which may be temporary or permanent. These and many other potential problems are elaborated upon to aid the nurse when caring for people with stomas.     

Care of patients with complications following formation of a stoma

Adjusting to living with a stoma is a difficult process that can be made even harder if complications arise. Community nurses should be aware of the most common problems that can occur and of the solutions or treatments required. Working with specialist stoma-care nurses, community nurses can offer psychological support and practical solutions.     

Urostomy appliances and stoma care routines. The relation to peristomal skin complications

The aim of the study was to describe types of appliances and stoma care routines and evaluate their relation to peristomal skin complications. Sixty-six patients with a cutaneous uretero-ileostomy were interviewed and the peristomal skin was assessed according to Classification of Peristomal Skin (CPS). The results show a conservatism regarding the types of appliance and the stoma care routines. More than half of the patients used the same product at follow-up as they were initially fitted with three to 14 years earlier. The routines adopted by the patients were often inadequate, resulting in skin complications. Continuous exposure of the skin to urine by creation of a too wide opening in the face-plate and infrequent changing of the appliance resulted in development of pseudoverrucose skin lesions.     

Management of oral complications

OBJECTIVES: To explore what nurses were doing to prevent or treat oral complications related to cancer and cancer therapies. DATA SOURCES: Review articles, research studies, consensus statements, and data collection. CONCLUSIONS: Different practice patterns exist between physicians and nurses in providing oral care interventions. Nurses initiated less toxic and less costly interventions than those prescribed by physicians. Standard assessment parameters are used infrequently. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Oral mucositis can be distressing by interfering with comfort, appetite, communication, and general well-being. Nurses need to initiate appropriate therapy for patient care.     

Management of a high-output stoma in the community: case study

Nursing care of patients with high-output stomas in the community can be challenging. Large quantities of liquid effluent make containment and skin care high priorities. These issues can in some cases be further complicated by the need for parenteral nutrition (PN). Issues related to high output stomas will be briefly discussed and then a case study will show how one team of community nurses assisted a patient with a jejunostomy.     

Factors associated with stoma quality of life among stoma patients

BackgroundQuality of life (QOL) concerns in patients with stomas is a globally important health issue. Currently, a lack of understanding into which factors influence QOL post-colostomy hinders the ability of health care professionals to provide appropriate instruction and care needed to improve a patient's QOL.ObjectivesTo determine the level of stoma-specific QOL and to determine which factors associate with stoma-specific QOL among patients with a stoma.MethodsA convenience sample of 76 patients with stomas was recruited from patients who presented to the ward for checkup in a tertiary hospital in Beijing. Quality of life, self-care, and hope were assessed in patients by the Stoma-QOL, stoma self-care agency scale, and Herth Hope Index, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using Pearson correlation, t-test, and multiple linear regression analysis.ResultsOur stoma-QOL survey demonstrated that stoma patients experienced difficulties functioning in work and social situations, had issues with sexuality and body image, and difficulties with stoma function. Patients expressed concerns related to the stoma itself such as finding privacy to empty the pouch, problems with leakage, and difficulties participating in social activities. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that self-care agency and hope were the main influencing factors and explained 23.4% of the variance of stoma function and 17.8% of the variance of work/social function.ConclusionQOL in patients with a stoma was not ideal. Our findings demonstrate that following stoma implantation, improvements in self-care and inspiring hope in patients played an important role in bettering their stoma-QOL. The strength of our study is that we adopted a stoma-specific questionnaire instead of a general scale such as EORTC C30.     

Management of gallstones and their complications

The accurate differentiation of gallstone-induced biliary colic from other abdominal disease processes is the most crucial step in the successful management of gallstone disease. Despite the availability of many imaging techniques to demonstrate the presence of gallstones, clinical judgment ultimately determines the association of symptoms with cholelithiasis and its complications. Adult patients with silent or incidental gallstones should be observed and managed expectantly, with few exceptions. In symptomatic patients, the intervention varies with the type of gallstone-induced complication. In this article, we review the salient clinical features, diagnostic tests and therapeutic options employed in the management of gallstones and their complications.     

造口评分表在肠造口患者护理中的应用

目的探究造口评分表在肠造口患者护理中的应用效果。方法将80例肠造口手术患者随机分为研究组和对照组,各40例,对照组采用常规护理方案,研究组在此基础上应用造口评分表,比较2组患者造口并发症发生情况以及生活质量。结果研究组患者出院后1个月的DET评分低于对照组,SF-36各项内容评分高于对照组,造口相关并发症发生率(12.5%)低于对照组(40.5%),差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论将造口评分表应用于肠造口患者的护理中,可减少相关并发症的发生,提高患者生活质量。     

Practical stoma care

Patricia Black looks at the reasons behind and management of different types of stoma as well as outlining some of the possible problems associated with stomas. She emphasises the importance of caring for a stoma patient's psychological as well as physical wellbeing.     

综合护理干预对膀胱癌术后腹壁造口患者生活质量及并发症的影响

目的探讨综合护理干预对膀胱癌术后腹壁造口患者生活质量以及并发症的影响。方法选取膀胱癌全切尿流改道术患者60例,按照随机数表法分为观察组和对照组各30例。对照组给予常规护理,观察组给予综合护理干预,比较2组患者治疗后的社会功能、认识功能、躯体功能、情绪功能、角色功能、总体健康情况以及术后并发症发生情况、治疗后对腹壁造口相关知识的掌握情况。结果治疗后,2组患者的躯体功能、情绪功能、角色功能、社会功能、认知功能以及总体健康情况都有所改善,且观察组的(76.12±6.49、65.15±3.48、67.89±6.18、49.12±3.17、58.14±6.12、61.03±6.12)分均高于对照组的(65.14±7.12、58.12±6.17、59.12±6.10、45.26±4.18、53.12±6.49、56.12±3.98)分,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后,观察组患者恶心、呕吐、失眠以及疼痛的并发症发生率分别为3.33%、6.67%、0、3.33%,低于对照组的23.33%、40.00%、16.67%、30.00%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后,观察组患者造口袋更换、并发症预防、饮食知识掌握分别为(16.23±3.19、15.45±1.98、20.13±3.49)分,高于对照组的(13.12±2.52、13.78±3.61、18.02±3.12)分,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论综合护理可有效提高膀胱癌术后患者的自我护理能力以及生活质量,改善患者总体健康情况,并提高护理质量。