November/December 2000
Ostomy Stomal "Bumps" - What Are They? - What To Do?
Liz O'Connor RN, CETN,
ET nurses are often asked about small "bumps" which appear on a formerly smooth stoma. They can be on the surface or around the edge where the stoma meets the skin. They can occur in a single area or around the whole circumference. Most of the time these are granulomas, which are of a benign nature. Granulation tissue is a normal defence reaction of the body to injury.
Those at the edge can be due to:
- A reaction to the suture being sewn though the stoma and to the skin, or,
- Too rigid or too tight a faceplate rubbing the stoma.
Those on the top or side of the stoma can be caused by:
- An allergic reaction to the plastic in the pouch (even after using the same type of pouch for a long time), or
- Stomal drainage constantly pointing to one area of the stoma (this can occur when the stoma opening points down).
What should you do? Most of the time these are nothing to worry about. Don't second-guess though. See your ET nurse and if necessary your doctor. Occasionally these bumps can be a manifestation of another condition (like the recurrence of Crohn's disease). Often they can be taken care of by treatment with silver nitrate sticks. Occasionally they need to be biopsied.
Quite often a change in the pouch or faceplate can help resolve the problem.
From Metro Maryland, via Metro Halifax News & Regina Ostomy News (May-Jun 2000), via Inside Out On-line Nov/Dec 2000.
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