Early stomal complications
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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

An Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy Designed to Minimize Anastomotic Complications and Optimize Conduit Function
Published on: April 17, 2020
1Department of Surgery, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Cooper University Hospital, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, NJ 08103, USA. kann-brian@cooperhealth.edu
Abstract:
The creation of intestinal stomas for diversion of enteric contents is an important component of the surgical management of several gastroenterologic disease processes. Despite the frequency with which these procedures are performed, complications of stoma creation remain common, despite extensive measures aimed at reducing them. Early postoperative complications (those seen less than one month postoperatively) can lead to significant cost, both financially and psychologically, and incur significant morbidity. Commonly seen early postoperative stomal complications include improper stoma site selection, vascular compromise, retraction, peristomal skin irritation, peristomal infection/abscess/fistula, acute parastomal herniation and bowel obstruction, and pure technical errors. The author reviews these early complications associated with stoma creation, discusses means of preventing them, and outlines the management strategy for such complications when they do occur.
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