Which is a peristomal stoma complication?

• A. Fistula
• B. Prolapse
• C. Peristomal hernia
• D. Urinary retention

Answer: (C)

Peristomal complications are problems that occur in the area of the stoma and the surrounding abdominal wall. A peristomal hernia happens when the weakness in the abdominal wall around the stoma allows abdominal contents to push out, creating a bulge next to the stoma. This bulge can make it hard to fit the appliance properly, cause discomfort, and in larger cases may lead to obstruction. It’s a classic example of a complication that concerns the tissue and muscles around the stoma, rather than the stoma itself.

In contrast, a stomal prolapse involves the bowel telescoping outward through the stoma opening itself, which is a different kind of problem at the stoma site. Urinary retention isn’t a complication of the peristomal area, as it relates to the urinary tract function rather than the tissue around the stoma. While fistulas can occur near a stoma, the defining peristomal issue described here is the hernia developing in the abdominal wall surrounding the stoma.