A Prospective, Explorative Study to Assess Adjustment 1 Year After Ostomy Surgery Among Swedish Patients.

Having ostomy surgery changes a person's life. To assess adjustment to life with an ostomy and quality of life (QOL) 1 year after ostomy surgery, a prospective, explorative study was conducted among patients of a stoma clinic at a university hospital in Sweden. All consecutive patients who had undergone nonemergent or emergency surgery involving formation of an ostomy and who received regular follow-up at the ward and at the outpatient clinic during the first year by an enterostomal therapist (ET) were prospectively included in the study; their demographic information (including age, gender, diagnosis/reason for an ostomy, nonemergent or emergency surgery, ostomy type, preoperative counselling/siting [Yes/No], self-sufficiency in stoma care, professional activity, and whether they lived with a spouse/partner) was recorded upon admission to the study. Participants independently completed the Ostomy Adjustment Scale (OAS), a 36-item instrument, with each response scored from worst to best adjustment (1 to 6) for a total score ranging from 36-216. The tool addresses 5 factors: normal functioning, functional limitations, negative affect, positive role function, and positive affect. In addition, QOL was assessed using a visual analogue scale (0 to 100 mm) along with 2 open-ended QOL questions. Quantitative and qualitative data were included on the same questionnaire and were entered into an Excel file by 2 of the researchers. The quantitative data were transferred to statistical software for analysis; the qualitative data were analyzed according to Graneheim and Lundman. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data and based on nonparametric analysis, and qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. Of the 150 patients eligible for inclusion (82 women, 68 men, median age 70 [range 21-90] years), 110 (73%) underwent nonemergent surgery, 106 (71%) had a colostomy, and 44 (29%) had an ileostomy. Most ostomies were created due to cancer (98, 65%) and inflammatory bowel disease (28, 19%), and 90% of participants were self-sufficient in ostomy care. The overall median score on the OAS was 162 with no significant differences between genders and diagnoses. The OAS scores for patients who did versus did not have preoperative counselling by an ET were 163 and 150, respectively (P = .313). Mean OAS scores were 136 for patients with cancer and an ileostomy and 163 for patients with cancer and a colostomy. Patients with cancer and an ileostomy had a significantly worse adjustment (mean 3.6 ± 1.32) than patients with cancer and a colostomy (mean 4.4 ± 1.21) in the factor Normal function (P = .015). Lowest adjustment scores were in the areas of sexual activities and attractiveness and participating in sports and physical activities; the highest scores concerned contact with an ET, feeling well informed, and knowing the correct methods of handling the ostomy. The median score for QOL for all patients was 76 (interquartile range 59-86). Three (3) categories emerged from the qualitative content analysis as obstacles to QOL: ostomy-related concerns and impact on life, limitations in physical and social activities, and negative impact on physical and mental health. The ET was found to have an important role in education and counselling to promote adjustment to life with an ostomy from preoperative to follow-up care. Future explorative studies are needed to determine how patients want questions about sex and sensitive issues to be designed and how the ET can best discuss sexuality and intimacy after ostomy surgery.

The Prevalence of Ostomy-related Complications 1 Year After Ostomy Surgery: A Prospective, Descriptive, Clinical Study.

Despite advancements in the creation and care of stomas, ostomy and peristomal skin complications are common immediately following surgery as well as in the months and years thereafter. A prospective study to determine the prevalence of ostomy and peristomal skin complications and the influence of ostomy configuration on such complications was conducted 1 year after ostomy surgery among all patients at a university hospital in Sweden. All participants received regular (10 to 14 days post discharge, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post surgery) ostomy follow-up care by a wound ostomy continence (WOC) nurse. All consecutive elective and emergency patients who had undergone surgery to create a colostomy (end colostomy), end ileostomy, or loop ileostomy were eligible to participate. Patients who were reoperated during their first year post-surgery, patients with a urostomy, and patients with double ostomies were excluded from the study. Patient data collected included age, gender, diagnosis, elective or emergency surgery, open or laparoscopic surgical procedure, presence of a colorectal surgeon specialist at surgery, type of ostomy (colostomy, end ileostomy, loop ileostomy), preoperative ostomy siting, counseling, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, and radiation and/or chemotherapy status. Ostomies were evaluated by 4 WOC nurses as to stoma configuration, convexity use, patient self-sufficiency in stoma care, and complications. All 207 patients (53% women) who were eligible agreed to participate in the study. Patient median age was 70 years (range 19-94); 74% underwent elective surgery. Main diagnoses were colorectal cancer (62%) and inflammatory bowel disease (19%). Ostomy types were: colostomy (71%), end ileostomy (26%), and loop ileostomy (3%). One or more complications occurred in 35% of the patients (27% ostomy complications, 11% peristomal skin complications). A colostomy hernia was the most common surgical complication (20%), and significantly more women (69%) and emergency surgeries were noted among patients with a colostomy and an ostomy height of ≤5 mm. The use of convexity was significantly more common among patients with a stoma height of ≤5 mm than patients with stomas >5 mm (P = 0.016) and among patients having emergency operations than among patients having elective surgery (P = 0.045). Of the emergency surgeries, 37% had not been ostomy-sited (P <0.0001). With regular WOC nurse follow-up, the prevalence of peristomal skin complications in this population was low, and adequate ostomy height might have prevented the frequent use of convexity. Explorative studies are needed that consider differences in body configuration when determining optimal stoma height, especially for patients who require emergency surgery.

Ostomy-related complications after emergent abdominal surgery: a 2-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate ostomy-related complications and describe ostomy configuration in patients undergoing acute abdominal surgery. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The study sample comprised 144 patients with a median age of 67 years (IOR: 53.5-78 years) who underwent an intestinal ostomy as part of an acute abdominal surgical procedure. The research setting was the surgical and gynecological clinics at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden. METHODS: Ostomy configuration, diameter, height, and the presence of stomal and peristomal complications were assessed by a WOC nurse 1 to 2 times while in hospital, once at the ostomy outpatient clinic 2 weeks after discharge, and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months following ostomy creation. RESULTS: The types of ostomies evaluated were end colostomy (58%), end ileostomy (18%), loop ileostomy (17%), and loop colostomy (7%). Most stomal or peristomal complications occurred within 1 year after surgery (31 of 57; 54.4%). Necrosis, separation, and stenosis were most common in patients with an end colostomy. Peristomal skin complications occurred in 45% of subjects during the first 6 months after surgery. The ostomy's diameter decreased significantly during the hospital course and over the first 2 weeks following hospital discharge in patients with end colostomy (P< .0001), end ileostomy (P< .0081), loop ileostomy (P= .008), and loop colostomy (ns). Patients with a low ostomy had peristomal skin problems ranging between 21% and 57% over this time period. The frequency of using a pouching system that incorporated convexity was highest in the case of loop ileostomy, used in 67% at 6 months. CONCLUSION: During the first 2 weeks after discharge, the physical configuration of the ostomy evolves and the pouching system must be frequently adjusted by a WOC nurse. Stomal and peristomal complications are prevalent during the first 2 postoperative years and especially during the first 6 months.

Concerns and quality of life before surgery and during the recovery period in patients with rectal cancer and an ostomy.

PURPOSE: Rectal cancer is the most common reason for a person to undergo ostomy surgery. The aim of this study was to assess concerns and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) before surgery and during the first 6 months following ostomy surgery in the presence of rectal cancer. SUBJECTS AND SETTINGS: The sample comprised 57 patients at a university hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden. Their median age was 66 years (range, 30-87); 35 men and 22 women participated in the study. METHODS: Participants prospectively answered questionnaires preoperatively, and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Concerns were assessed using the rating form of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patient Concerns, and HRQOL was evaluated using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. Results were compared with population norms. RESULTS: Participants expressed concerns associated with developing cancer, being a burden on others, and related to the uncertain nature of disease. Health-related quality of life scores dropped significantly in 6 of 8 domains when preoperative scores were compared to those obtained 1 month postoperatively, but scores improved at 6 months. There were significant differences between preoperative study group scores and population norms on physical and emotional role function, social function, and for mental health domains. Significant differences persisted when population norms were compared to study group scores 6 months following surgery on all these domains except mental health. Participants identified good relations with significant others, social and leisure activities, psychological issues, and health as important for maintaining QOL. Obstacles to maintaining QOL included fatigue, pain, illness-induced limitations in life, and worries over what their new life would entail. CONCLUSION: Surgical management of rectal cancer raises concerns and profoundly impairs QOL during the first several postoperative months.