The morbidity and mortality of colostomy closure

Abstract

Retrospective analysis was done of 304 patients who underwent colostomy closure at Henry Ford Hospital between 1967 and 1977. A mortality of less than 0.3% and a morbidity rate of 14%, with an average hospital stay of 15 days, is reported. Wound infection was the most common complication with an incidence of 9.5%. Late complications during the study period were less than 3%. If the intraperitoneal closure technique with resection and anastomosis is used, colostomy closure can be a safe procedure with minimal mortality and morbidity. Colostomy closure should be considered as nothing less than a major colonic resection.