Common intestinal stoma complaints.

### What you need to know Approximately 100 000 people in the UK have an intestinal stoma,1 which are most commonly formed after surgery for cancer or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They can be described according to the part of the bowel (small or large) used to create the stoma and can be temporary (with potential for reversal at a later date) or permanent. Many different types of stoma exist (eg, nephrostomy, urostomy), but in this article we focus on common complaints associated with intestinal stomas that may lead patients to present to general practice. Imagine a patient presenting to you in general practice with concerns about discomfort in their stoma. After a thorough history, you might examine them as follows: Ask the patient whether the stoma has changed in appearance. Then, inspect the stoma looking specifically at whether it sits proud of the skin and if it is healthy, pink, and moist. Consider digital examination of the stoma if you have concerns about function. This is an intimate examination, so good communication is essential. Ensure your patient has a replacement stoma bag and ask them to …