ABSTRACT
Background: Intestinal stoma formation is beneficial in patients who cannot sustain prolonged surgery due to poor general condition, hemodynamic instability or other co-morbid conditions. Stoma formation decreases mortality and morbidity in such patients. However, stoma formation itself is associated with complications like skin irritation, prolapse, retraction, electrolytes loss etc. Early closure of temporary stomas will reduce patient’s physical and psychological discomfort. Aim: - To study the feasibility and advantages/ disadvantages of early closure of temporary intestinal stomas i.e. within 3 weeks. Design and Place:-This is a prospective observational study which was conducted over one year (2011 to 2012) on thirty (31) patients with temporary stomas for various etiology admitted in Department of surgery, Government medical college, Jammu. Methods: Patients with temporary stoma for various reasons were subjected to early stoma closure i.e. within three weeks (21 days) after confirming distal patency. Merits and complications of early stoma closure were noted. Results: Out of 31 patients, early stoma closure was done in 30 patients. Intra-operatively one (3.33%) patient was found to have pus collections, so stoma closure was not done. Wound infection in 5(16.6%) patients, Paralytic Ileus in 2(6.66%) patients and wound dehiscence in 1(3.33%) patient were the noted complications, all of which were managed conservatively. One patient (3.33%) had post stoma closure intestinal obstruction for which re-laparotomy was done and stoma recreated. Conclusion: Early closure of temporary stoma offers improved quality of life to the patient with no significant post operative complications.