A Clinical Study of the Complications of a Colostomy

Kim, Woo Yeol; Lee, Yun Sik; Park, Jin Hyun; Lee, Byung Chul

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Even though there is a tendency to perform a colostomy less frequently, the colostomy still has an important role in the treatment and palliation of various colorectal diseases, and the number of colostomy cases is somewhat increasing due to an overall increase in the number of patient. The object of this study was to assess the colostomy patient and to determine both the incidence of complications and the factors causing colostomy complication in the construction of the colostomy stoma.
METHODS
One hundred five (105) cases of colostomy were clinically evaluated at the Department of General Surgery, Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital, from Jan. 1, 1992. to Oct. 31, 1997.
RESULTS
The results were as follows: 1) The peak incidence in age was the 5th decade, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.84:1.2) A sigmoid-nd colostomy was done in 70 patients (66.7%), a sigmoid-oop colostomy in 20 patients (19%), a transverse-nd colostomy in 9 patients (8.6%), and a transverse-oop colostomy in 6 patients (5.7%). 3) Colorectal cancer was the most common disease for which a colostomy was performed; the others were necrotizing fasciitis, trauma, ischemic colitis, imperforate anus, and necrotizing pancreatitis. 4) After the colostomy, there were 25 cases of complications limited to the stoma formation in 105 patients (23.8%). Among the risk factors for complications, underlying disease and technique had meaningful P-alues (p<0.05). 5) The mean hospital stays were 27 days for a sigmoid-nd colostomy, 32.8 days for a sigmoid-oop colostomy, 31.7 days for a transverse-nd colostomy, and 38.6 days for a transverse-oop colostomy. 6) The mortality rate was 4.76% (5 cases), and the causes of death were sepsis (3 cases), acute renal failure and pulmonary edema (1 case), and myocardial infarction (1 case).
CONCLUSIONS
After a colostomy, there were 25 cases of complications limited to the stoma formation in 105 patients (23.8%). Among the risk factors of colostomy formation, underlying disease and technique had the meaningful P-alues (p<0.05).