Outcome of stoma closure in babies with necrotising enterocolitis: early vs late closure

Newborns undergoing surgery for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) often require a stoma. Currently, there is no consensus regarding the best time for stoma closure (SC). Our aim was to determine the outcomes of early versus late closure.

Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent SC following stoma formation for NEC between Jan 2009 and July 2015 was done. Early (EC) versus late closure (LC) was defined as less than 10 weeks versus at or after 10 weeks of stoma formation.

Of 36 patients, M:F was 23:13. Indications for laparotomy were pneumoperitoneum (30) and gangrene (6). Postoperatively, 9/15 (60.0%) of EC group required ventilator support versus none in LC group (p < 0.05). It took longer to establish full feeds following EC (12 days) versus LC (8 days). Median duration of postoperative hospital stay following EC was 31 days (18-35) versus 7 days (4-54) following LC. Three patients were re-operated for intestinal obstruction (two following EC, one following LC). Three patients developed incisional hernia after EC versus none after LC (p < 0.05). One patient died after EC due to staphylococcus septicaemia.

Early closure before 10 weeks of formation for NEC patients is associated with significant morbidity, increased ventilator requirements and chances of developing incisional hernia.