Which of the following describes typical symptoms of stoma stenosis?

• A. Change in the effluent: stool may be explosive, stool may be narrow, and there may be large amounts of gas
• B. Increased stool frequency with loose stools
• C. No change in effluent or stool characteristics
• D. Decreased gas production and wider stoma

Answer: (A)

Stoma stenosis means the opening of the stoma has narrowed, creating an obstruction to stool flow. When the opening is tighter, stool must pass through a smaller channel, which often changes how the effluent comes out and how gas moves.

Because of the narrowing, stool can emerge as a narrow stream and may be passed with more force or in an explosive manner once enough pressure builds to push through. Gas behind the narrowing can accumulate, leading to larger amounts of gas being passed. These patterns—narrow, forceful stool discharge and increased gas—are typical signs of stenosis.

This contrasts with symptoms like increased stool frequency with loose stools or no change in output, which don’t reflect a narrowing. A wider stoma with decreased gas would also be inconsistent with stenosis.