Stoma Leakage: Prevalence, Associated Factors, and Assessment Tools—A Scoping Review

TL;DR

This review maps the prevalence and factors of stoma leakage, highlighting its impact on health and the need for better assessment tools.

Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive scoping review of peristomal leakage prevalence, factors, and assessment tools across different stoma types.

Findings

Peristomal leakage prevalence exceeds 50% in most studies across stoma subtypes.

Leakage determinants include anatomical, surgical, device-related, and psychosocial factors.

Assessment tools vary widely, with inconsistent definitions and grading systems.

Abstract

Background: Peristomal leakage is one of the most troublesome complications of living with a stoma, affecting skin integrity, quality of life, and healthcare costs. However, definitions, measurement methods, and prevalence estimates remain heterogeneous. This scoping review aimed to (i) map the international prevalence of peristomal leakage across stoma subtypes; (ii) identify associated or correlated factors; and (iii) describe the tools used to assess leakage. Methods: A scoping review was performed following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched, with publication language restricted to English and Italian. Primary studies and evidence syntheses addressing peristomal leakage were included. Results: Twenty-seven studies were included, most of which were primary observational studies conducted in Europe, North America, and the Nordic countries. Ileostomy was the most frequently investigated stoma type, followed by colostomy and urostomy. Across settings, peristomal leakage was highly prevalent, with most period or lifetime prevalence estimates exceeding 50%. Reported determinants clustered into anatomical, surgical, device-related, behavioral, care-related and psychosocial factors. Multiple tools were used, including leakage-specific and broader stoma questionnaires, but definitions and leakage grading were inconsistent. Conclusions: Peristomal leakage is a common, multifactorial, and largely preventable complication with substantial clinical, psychosocial and economic consequences. Clinical practice should prioritize early detection, validated assessment tools, patient education, specialized stoma nursing and structured follow-up. Future research should establish consensus definitions, robustly validate leakage-specific instruments, include under-represented regions and conduct high-quality economic evaluations to guide equitable, cost-effective care models.

Figures