Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2026

Tissue Engineering of the Intestine in a Murine Model
Published on: December 1, 2012
Enterostomy complications in infancy and childhood
G Steinau1, K M Ruhl, H Hörnchen
1Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
Background:
A number of severe gastrointestinal disorders in infancy and childhood may require the formation of an enterostomy as a crucial part of the treatment of the disease itself. This study reviews our pediatric patients with regard to the morbidity and mortality of enterostomy formation and closure over an 8-year period.
Patients And Methods:
Sixty-eight enterostomies in infants and children and 60 consecutive enterostomy closures in retrospect are reported on. This includes colostomies, jejunostomies, ileostomies, and Mikulicz procedures.
Results:
In most instances, a transverse colostomy was performed. The most frequent indications were intestinal obstruction and necrotizing enterocolitis. More than half of the children were less than 1 month of age at the time of surgery. We observed an overall complication rate of 38.2% following enterostomy formation, with stoma prolapse being the most common, but faced major complications (such as sepsis, peritonitis, and enterocutaneous fistula) in only 10.3%. Complications after enterostomy closure were encountered in 20%. The overall mortality was 7%.
Conclusion:
Enterostomy formation and closure in the pediatric age group with severe underlying disease is still associated with substantial morbidity.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:
Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube through...
Peritoneal Dialysis II: Peritoneal Dialysis Systems and Complications
Intestinal Obstruction II: Pathophysiology

