Peristomal Necrosis Following Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: A Case Report.

Background: Peristomal necrosis is a rare but challenging condition requiring multidisciplinary management involving surgical debridement and intensive WOC nurse management.
Case: Mr T was a 56-year-old man who underwent cytoreductive surgery with intraperitoneal chemotherapy for a high-grade appendiceal neoplasm. As part of the procedure, an Abcarian stoma (end-ileostomy with a distal lumen from the transverse colon brought out flush with skin beside the proximal stoma) was created. Postoperatively there was leakage of effluent under the subcutaneous skin resulting in full-thickness necrosis of the peristomal area requiring surgical debridement. Consequently, a large peristomal skin defect occurred, resulting in difficulty achieving a good seal of the ostomy pouching system. To overcome these challenges, a multidisciplinary approach with WOC nurses, colorectal surgeons, and plastic surgeons was implemented. Initially, the defect was managed with a negative pressure wound therapy system, followed by a primary closure of the peristomal skin by the plastic surgeons. Mr T was discharged to home 58 days after his initial surgery; by that time, the peristomal skin was healed and he was able to manage ostomy pouching changes independently. Eight months later his ileostomy was successfully reversed.
Conclusions: Large peristomal defects are challenging but can be managed successfully via a multidisciplinary approach including WOC nurses, colorectal surgeons, and plastic surgeons.
Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors are employees of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and did not receive any external funding for writing this article.
(Copyright © 2022 by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society.)