Risk factors for the incidence and severity of peristomal skin disorders defined using two scoring systems

Psychometric validation of the Ostomy Skin Tool 2.0

Background

Peristomal skin complications (PSCs) pose a major challenge for people living with an ostomy. To avoid severe PSCs, it is important that people with an ostomy check their peristomal skin condition on a regular basis and seek professional help when needed.

Aim

To validate a new ostomy skin tool (OST 2.0) that will make regular assessment of the peristomal skin easier.

Methods

Seventy subjects participating in a clinical trial were eligible for the analysis and data used for the validation. Item-level correlation with anchors, inter-item correlations, convergent validity of domains, test-retest reliability, anchor- and distribution-based methods for assessment of meaningful change were all part of the psychometric validation of the tool.

Results

A final tool was established including six patient reported outcome items and automatic assessment of the discolored peristomal area. Follow-up with cognitive debriefing interviews assured that the concepts were considered relevant for people with an ostomy.

Conclusion

The OST 2.0 demonstrated evidence supporting its reliability and validity as an outcome measure to capture both visible and non-visible peristomal skin complications.

Efficacy of laparoscopic surgery for loop colostomy: a propensity-score-matched analysis

PURPOSE

Colostomy is a common procedure for fecal diversion, but the optimal colostomy approach is unclear in terms of surgical outcomes and stoma-related complications. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and feasibility of laparoscopic loop colostomy.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent loop colostomy at Shizuoka Cancer Center in Japan between April 2010 and March 2022. Patients were divided into two groups based on surgical approach: the laparoscopic (LAP) and open (OPEN) groups. Surgical outcomes and the incidences of stoma-related complications such as stomal prolapse (SP), parastomal hernia (PSH), and skin disorders (SD) were compared with and without propensity score matching.

RESULTS

Of the 388 eligible patients, 180 (46%) were in the LAP group and 208 (54%) were in the OPEN group. The male-to-female ratio was 5.5:4.5 in the Lap group and was 5.3:4.7 in the OPEN group, respectively. The median age was 68 years (range, 31-88 years) in the LAP group and 65 years (range, 23-93 years) in the OPEN group, respectively. The LAP group, compared with the OPEN group, had a shorter operative time and lower incidences of surgical site infection (3.9% versus 16.3%, respectively; p < 0.01) and SD (11.7% versus 24.5%, respectively; p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the LAP and OPEN groups in the incidence of SP (17.3% versus 17.3%, respectively) or PSH (8.9% versus 6.7%, respectively). After propensity score matching, the incidences of surgical site infection and SD were significantly lower in the LAP group than in the OPEN group, while there were no significant differences in the operative time or the incidences of SP and PSH.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that laparoscopic surgery could be beneficial and feasible in loop colostomy.

Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Ostomy Skin Tool to the Brazilian Portuguese

PURPOSE

To adapt the Ostomy Skin Tool (discoloration, erosion, and tissue overgrowth) to the Brazilian culture and to analyze psychometric properties of the adapted version.

DESIGN

Psychometric (methodologic) evaluation of the instrument.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING

Three ostomy/enterostomal therapy nurses evaluated the extent and severity of peristomal skin conditions in a sample of 109 adults 18 years or older with peristomal skin complications. These participants were receiving care in an ambulatory care center in outpatient health services in Sao Paulo and Curitiba, Brazil. In addition, interobserver reliability was measured using a group of 129 nurse participants who attended the Brazilian Congress of Stomatherapy held from November 12 to 15, 2017, in Belo Horizonte, a city located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Nurse participants assessed the descriptions of peristomal skin complications of the Portuguese version, using the same photographs used in the original DET score, purposely placed out of original order.

METHODS

The study was performed in 2 stages. The instrument was translated into Brazilian Portuguese by 2 bilingual translators, and back-translated into English. The back-translated version was sent to one of the developers of the instrument for additional evaluation. During stage 2, content validity was evaluated by 7 nurses with expertise in ostomy and peristomal skin care. Convergent validity was evaluated by correlating the severity of peristomal skin complications to pain intensity. Discriminant validity was evaluated based on type and time of ostomy creation, presence of retraction, and preoperative stoma site marking. Finally, interrater reliability was evaluated using standardized photograph evaluation reproduced in the same sequence as the original English language version of the instrument, along with paired scores from assessment of adults living with an ostomy generated by an investigator and nurse data collectors.

RESULTS

The Content Validity Index for the Ostomy Skin Tool was 0.83. Levels of mild agreements were obtained for the nurses' observations in the evaluation of peristomal skin complications using standardized photographs (κ= 0.314). In contrast, moderate to almost perfect agreements were obtained when scores were compared in the clinical setting (κ= 0.48-0.93, according to the domains). Positive correlations between the instrument and pain intensity (r = 0.44; P = .001) indicate convergent validity of the adapted version of the Ostomy Skin Tool. In contrast, analysis of discriminant validity was mixed and definitive conclusions about this form of construct validity cannot be made based on this study.

CONCLUSION

This study supports convergent validity and interrater reliability of the adapted version of the Ostomy Skin Tool.

The presurgical controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score is independently associated with severe peristomal skin disorders: a single-center retrospective cohort study

While nutritional interventions may potentially lower the risk of peristomal skin disorders (PSDs) and their exacerbation, no previous studies have evaluated the relationship between PSDs and nutritional status using the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of preoperative nutritional status on stoma health, and determine risk factors for postoperative PSDs, including severe PSDs. A retrospective analysis was performed of 116 consecutive patients with rectal cancer who underwent radical surgery with ileostomy or colostomy creation. PSDs were diagnosed in 32 patients (27.6%); including 10 cases (8.7%) that were defined as severe based on the ABCD-stoma score. Multivariable logistic regression showed that smoking (odds ratio [OR] 3.451, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.240–9.607, p = 0.018) and ileostomy (OR 3.287, 95% CI 1.278–8.458, p = 0.014) were independent risk factors for PSDs. A separate multivariable logistic regression analysis of risk factors for severe PSDs, found that the only independent risk factor was the CONUT score (OR 10.040, 95% CI 1.191–84.651, p = 0.034). Severe PSDs are associated with preoperative nutritional disorders, as determined by the CONUT score. Furthermore, nutritional disorders may increase the severity of PSDs, regardless of the stoma type.

Usability of a Novel Instrument to Measure Damaged Peristomal Skin in Patients with an Ostomy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the usability of a novel instrument (stoma ruler) to measure damaged peristomal skin in patients with an ostomy.

METHODS

A wound ostomy and continence nurse used both the stoma ruler and a linear ruler to assess DET (discoloration, erosion, tissue overgrowth) scores and the height of protrusion above the skin of 10 patients with ileostomies and took photographs. The photographs were presented to five ostomy care nurses for reliability testing. The difference between the two methods was determined using paired Wilcoxon signed ranks test.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

Interrater reliability of the linear versus stoma ruler.

RESULTS

The interrater reliabilities of the stoma ruler versus the linear ruler for the domain-area DET score were 0.95 (95% confidence interval, 0.89-0.99) and 0.68 (95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.89), respectively. Only nurse 5 reported a significant difference between the two rulers (z = -2.24, P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

In busy clinical settings, the stoma ruler is easy for ostomy care nurses to use to obtain accurate DET scores and the height of stoma protrusion above the skin. Observing the position of damaged skin using the clock marks on the stoma ruler enhance clinical description and reduce assessment variation among professionals.

Risk factors for peristomal skin disorders associated with temporary ileostomy construction

PURPOSE

Skin disorders are the most common stoma-related complications after temporary diverting loop ileostomy with proctectomy. The aim of the present study was to investigate risk factors for skin disorders associated with temporary ileostomy construction.

METHODS

A total of 185 consecutive patients who underwent curative proctectomy with temporary diverting loop ileostomy for rectal malignancies at a single comprehensive cancer center between 2013 and 2018 were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

The most frequent stoma-related complications were skin disorders (n = 62, 33.5%), followed by mucocutaneous separation (n = 38, 20.5%) and high-output stoma (n = 34, 18.4%). Patients with skin disorders had a higher median body mass index (BMI; 22.4 vs. 21.3 kg/m², P = 0.002) and lower stoma height (16 vs. 20 mm, P < 0.001) than those without skin disorders. According to a multivariable logistic regression analysis, independent predictors of skin disorders included overweight (median BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² [odds ratio = 3.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.5-8.6], P = 0.004) and lower stomal height (median stoma height < 20 mm [odds ratio = 3.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.6-6.3], P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Overweight and lower stoma height are correlated with the presence of skin disorders. Construction of a well-elevated stoma can reduce skin disorders associated with temporary ileostomy construction.