Which is a mechanical complication of peristomal hernia?

• A. Bowel incarceration
• B. Leakage of appliances
• C. Mechanical bowel obstruction
• D. Peristomal skin irritation

Answer: (C)

Peristomal hernia can create a space where bowel loops can herniate and become distorted near the stoma. The key mechanical problem here is that this distortion or entrapment can narrow or block the bowel lumen, leading to a mechanical bowel obstruction. This kind of obstruction directly involves the flow of intestinal contents being physically impeded by the herniated bowel at the stomal site, which is the defining feature of a mechanical complication.

Other options describe problems related to the appliance or the skin, such as issues with the seal allowing leakage or irritation of the peristomal skin. Those are non-luminal, contact-related problems and don’t reflect a mechanical blockage of the bowel. Incarceration is a related risk in hernias but the scenario emphasizing a mechanical complication most characteristic of peristomal hernia is obstruction of the bowel lumen.