Abstract
Objective: All surgeons performing colostomy closure strive to achieve early postoperative intestinal peristalsis in their patients. Early peristalsis following abdominal surgery leads to a shorter time to flatulence/defecation, thereby allowing early transition to oral feeding and early hospital discharge. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rectal tube applied after colostomy on intestinal peristalsis, time to first flatulence/defecation, and time to hospital discharge.
 Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 40 patients that underwent colostomy closure between September 2013 and October 2020. Age, gender, and indications for colostomy were reviewed for each patient. Patients were divided into two groups as patients who underwent and those who did not
 undergo rectal tube application. In both groups, time to first flatulence/defecation, time to oral feeding, and hospitalization period were recorded.
 Results: The 40 patients comprised 26 boys and 14 girls with a mean age of 3.46±2.11 years. Time to first flatulence/defecation and hospitalization periods were significantly shorter in patients that underwent rectal tube placement than in patients that did not undergo rectal tube placement (p=0.001).
 Conclusion: Rectal tube application following colostomy leads to early onset of intestinal peristalsis and a shorter time to flatulence/defecation, thereby allowing early transition to oral feeding and early hospital discharge.
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