Morbidity of closure of colostomy

Abstract

This study reviews 86 colostomy closures with 61.6 per cent of the cases resulting from trauma. The overall complication rate was 17.4 per cent which included 7 per cent wound infection, 3.5 per cent anastomotic leak with fecal fistula, 2.3 per cent partial bowel obstruction, and 1 per cent each of deep stitch abscess, wound dehiscence, incisional hernia, and death due to intra-abdominal sepsis. Age, sex, and underlying disease had no demonstrable influence on the outcome of the operation. Closure of colostomy after three months of construction, mechanical and antibiotic bowel preparation, intraperitoneal closure, end-to-end anastomosis, and seconary skin closure were factors that appeared to influence the morbidity of the operation.