| The following article features coverage from the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2019. Click here to read more of Oncology Nurse Advisor‘s conference coverage. |
Enterostomy therapy nurses care for patients who have undergone enterostomies, a procedure that creates an ostomy/stoma (hole) in the body to redirect the bowels and eliminate bodily waste. These nurses and their patients face a unique set of challenges that could be complicated further by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
According to study findings presented at ESMO Congress 2019 in Barcelona, Spain, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may increase the risk of stomal lesions in neoplastic ostomy patients.
“Stomal side effects induced by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy represent an important problem for patients who need competent and organized support in order to be able to cope with them,” noted the researchers. Currently there are only a few studies that evaluate the care and continued treatment of ostomy patients.
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This study included 60 ostomy patients who underwent surgical procedures for different types of cancer, 29 of whom had also been treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. The researchers assessed the patients and classified experienced complications according to the SACS scale.
Approximately 51% of patients treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy developed stomal complications. Fourteen patients had SACS-L1 skin alterations including redness without loss of substance, and one patient developed a SACS-L2 lesion, including a loss of substance.
Despite its small sample size, this study demonstrated an increased frequency of complications among ostomy patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation. The researchers reasoned that early detection and treatment may aid in mitigating stromal complications and in improving the overall quality of life of ostomy patients.
Reference
Ferrero C. The stomized, chemo and radiotreated patient vs untreated patient: complications and comparison with data literature. Presented at: ESMO Congress 2019; September 27-October 1, 2019; Barcelona, Spain. Abstract 1066.
