Question: What complications may occur after ostomy surgery of the bowel?
Answer: Talk with your doctor, surgeon, or ostomy nurse about possible complications that may occur after your surgery. Like any major surgery, ostomy surgery may lead to complications, such as bleeding and infection. Some risks depend on the type of ostomy surgery you have and the reasons you need surgery.

After ostomy surgery, talk with your ostomy nurse or doctor if you notice any unusual symptoms or problems. They may recommend at-home treatments for minor problems or complications. Doctors may recommend medicines, surgery, or other medical treatments for more serious complications.

Ileostomy or colostomy
Complications of ileostomy and colostomy may include stoma or skin complications, dehydration, problems absorbing nutrients, and intestinal obstruction.
Stoma complications
Complications that are more common within the first 30 days after surgery may include7,8

bleeding from the stoma
lack of blood supply to the stoma and death of stoma tissue
retraction, or when the stoma sinks below the level of the skin
separation of the stoma from the skin around it

Stoma complications that are more common 30 days or later after surgery may include7,8

hernia, or abdominal contents bulging through a weak area in the abdominal wall near the stoma. In rare cases, part of the intestine may become stuck in the hernia, which can lead to a blockage in the intestine or cause the intestine to lose its blood supply.
prolapse, or when part of the intestine pushes itself through the stoma. Rarely, the prolapsed intestine may become stuck in the stoma and lose its blood supply.
retraction.
stricture, or narrowing of the stoma, which makes it difficult for intestinal contents to pass.

Skin complications
Complications involving the skin around the stoma are common. Skin complications may include

irritation when intestinal contents that leak from the stoma touch the skin, which can happen if your ostomy pouch doesn’t fit properly
irritation or injury related to applying or changing your ostomy pouch
infection with bacteria or fungi

Other complications
After ileostomy or colostomy, other complications may include

dehydration, which is more common if all of your large intestine was removed or bypassed
problems absorbing nutrients, which may occur if part of your small intestine was removed or bypassed
intestinal obstruction, a partial or complete blockage of food, fluids, air, or stool moving through your intestines

Continent ileostomy
Complications of continent ileostomy may include

problems with the pouch, such as pouchitis
problems with the stoma, such as stricture or hernia
problems with the valve, which may make it hard to drain the pouch or cause incontinence
small intestinal obstruction

Ileoanal pouch surgery
Complications of ileoanal pouch surgery that are more common within the first 30 days after surgery may include9,10

blood clots in the portal vein
pelvic sepsis, or infection in the lower abdomen around the ileoanal pouch, which may cause abscesses or fistulas to form
small intestinal obstruction

Complications that are more common 30 days or later after surgery may include9,10

pouchitis, which is inflammation of the ileoanal pouch
cuffitis, which is inflammation of the area where surgeons attached the pouch to the anus
small intestinal obstruction
stricture, or narrowing of the area where the ileoanal pouch is connected to the anus

After ileoanal pouch surgery, more frequent bowel movements may cause the skin around your anus to become irritated. Your ostomy nurse will teach you how to prevent and treat irritated skin.

Contact your doctor or ostomy nurse if you notice any unusual signs and symptoms any time after ostomy surgery.

Talk with your doctor and ostomy nurse about symptoms that could be signs of a serious complication and when you should contact a health care professional or seek emergency medical care.

Seek medical help right away if you have symptoms that could be related to a serious complication. Examples include1,2,5

problems with your stoma, such as changes in a stoma’s size, shape, color, or odor; bleeding from inside or around the stoma that is heavy or doesn’t stop; or an injury or deep cut to the stoma
cramping in the abdomen that lasts for more than 2 or 3 hours
nauseaandvomitingthat is severe or does not stop
passing no gas or stool from a stoma for more than 4 to 6 hours, along with cramping and nausea
severediarrheaor watery output from a stoma, which could lead to dehydration
Question: Ileostomy or colostomy
Answer: Complications of ileostomy and colostomy may include stoma or skin complications, dehydration, problems absorbing nutrients, and intestinal obstruction.

Stoma complications

Complications that are more common within the first 30 days after surgery may include7,8

bleeding from the stoma
lack of blood supply to the stoma and death of stoma tissue
retraction, or when the stoma sinks below the level of the skin
separation of the stoma from the skin around it

Stoma complications that are more common 30 days or later after surgery may include7,8

hernia, or abdominal contents bulging through a weak area in theabdominalwall near the stoma. In rare cases, part of theintestinemay become stuck in the hernia, which can lead to a blockage in the intestine or cause the intestine to lose its blood supply.
prolapse, or when part of the intestine pushes itself through the stoma. Rarely, the prolapsed intestine may become stuck in the stoma and lose its blood supply.
retraction.
stricture, or narrowing of the stoma, which makes it difficult for intestinal contents to pass.

Skin complications

Complications involving the skin around the stoma are common. Skin complications may include

irritation when intestinal contents that leak from the stoma touch the skin, which can happen if your ostomy pouch doesn’t fit properly
irritation or injury related to applying or changing your ostomy pouch
infection withbacteriaorfungi

Other complications

After ileostomy or colostomy, other complications may include

dehydration, which is more common if all of yourlarge intestinewas removed or bypassed
problems absorbing nutrients, which may occur if part of yoursmall intestinewas removed or bypassed
intestinal obstruction, a partial or complete blockage of food, fluids, air, or stool moving through your intestines
Question: Continent ileostomy
Answer: Complications of continent ileostomy may include

problems with the pouch, such as pouchitis
problems with the stoma, such as stricture or hernia
problems with the valve, which may make it hard to drain the pouch or causeincontinence
small intestinal obstruction
Question: Ileoanal pouch surgery
Answer: Complications of ileoanal pouch surgery that are more common within the first 30 days after surgery may include9,10

blood clotsin theportal vein
pelvic sepsis, or infection in the lower abdomen around the ileoanal pouch, which may causeabscessesorfistulasto form
small intestinal obstruction

Complications that are more common 30 days or later after surgery may include9,10

pouchitis, which isinflammationof the ileoanal pouch
cuffitis, which is inflammation of the area where surgeons attached the pouch to theanus
small intestinal obstruction
stricture, or narrowing of the area where the ileoanal pouch is connected to the anus

After ileoanal pouch surgery, more frequent bowel movements may cause the skin around your anus to become irritated. Your ostomy nurse will teach you how to prevent and treat irritated skin.
Question: Seek medical help right away
Answer: Contact your doctor or ostomy nurse if you notice any unusual signs and symptoms any time after ostomy surgery.

Talk with your doctor and ostomy nurse about symptoms that could be signs of a serious complication and when you should contact a health care professional or seek emergency medical care.

Seek medical help right away if you have symptoms that could be related to a serious complication. Examples include1,2,5

problems with your stoma, such as changes in a stoma’s size, shape, color, or odor; bleeding from inside or around the stoma that is heavy or doesn’t stop; or an injury or deep cut to the stoma
cramping in the abdomen that lasts for more than 2 or 3 hours
nauseaandvomitingthat is severe or does not stop
passing no gas or stool from a stoma for more than 4 to 6 hours, along with cramping and nausea
severediarrheaor watery output from a stoma, which could lead to dehydration