In a partial peristomal fistula, which statement is true?

• A. Only a portion of effluent drains through the fistula; the rest drains from the stoma site.
• B. All effluent drains through the fistula.
• C. No effluent drains.
• D. Effluent drains exclusively into the skin around the stoma.

Answer: (A)

Partial peristomal fistula means only part of the intestinal output is diverted through a tract to the skin around the stoma, while the rest continues to drain through the stoma itself. That split in drainage is what makes this statement true: only a portion drains through the fistula, with the remainder exiting via the stoma site. If all effluent drained through the fistula, it would be a complete diversion; if no effluent drained, there would be no fistula-related drainage; and if drainage occurred exclusively into the skin around the stoma, that would imply no output through the stoma itself, which isn’t how a partial fistula behaves.