Complications of colostomy closure.

A series of 126 colostomy closures was analyzed to evaluate factors contributing to morbidity. There were no deaths, but there was a 33 percent complication rate. Patients with penetrating abdominal trauma and foreign-body rectal perforations had fewer serious complications following colostomy closures than patients with diverticulitis or cancer. No significant difference was found in the anastomotic leak rate, length of surgery or length of hospitalization in patients with sutured or stapled anastomoses. Most patients in this series had end colostomies that required limited resection and anastomoses. Complication rates were comparable with previous series, which consisted predominantly of loop colostomy closures. The incidence of surgical complications was not related to the time interval between colostomy formation and closure. Timing of closure, however, significantly influenced the complication rate in two specific patient groups: patients with intraperitoneal colon perforation at the initial procedure when closure was performed within four weeks, and patients with surgical complications at the time of colostomy creation if they underwent closure within eight weeks. Early closures in patients still recovering from colostomy complications were associated with the highest incidence of anastomotic leak. Wound infections at stoma sites were decreased by leaving the skin open. The average hospitalization was 11.1 days for patients without complications, 15.5 days for those with wound infection, 18.5 days for patients with ileus, and 20.4 days for patients with anastomotic leaks. This study illustrates that the optimal time for colostomy closure must be determined on an individual basis. The morbidity can be minimized by delaying closure in specific groups of patients for one to two months. Delaying closure for an arbitrary time interval in all patients, however, is not warranted.