Postoperative Complications of Colostomy Closure

Seiei Yasuda, Takashi Noto, Masami Ikeda, Masaya Mukai, Osamu Horie, Hideki Ishida, Hirotsugu Kubo, Tomoo Tajima, Toshio Mitomi

Second Department of Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine

In a series of 50 colostomy closures, 17 patients (34%) had postoperative abdominal complications. There were 23 complications in the 50 patients, with an anastomotic stricture rate of 10%, a wound infection rate of 8%, a small bowel obstruction rate of 6%, a ventral hernia rate of 4%, an anastomotic leakage rate of 2% a stitch abscess rate of 16%. Five patients (10%) needed surgical therapy. Closure of a loop colostomy was associated with fewer complications. Factors that did not influence morbidity included the underlying disease, location of the colostomy, time interval between construction and closure of the colostomy, mechanical bowel preparation and method of closure. There have been much discussion concerning the optimal time for colostomy closure. It appears that in some cases the colostomy may be safely closed within 3 months. Careful surgical technic seemed to be most important factor in reducing complications.

Key words
colostomy closure, colostmy, temporary colostomy, complications, complications of colon surgery

Reprint requests
Seiei Yasuda Second Department of Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine
Boseidai, Isehara City, 259-11 JAPAN

Accepted
December 10, 1991

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