Ileostomy reconstruction

A study of 47 patients undergoing ileostomy reconstruction is presented. The most common indications were recession (15 patients) and a desire for a continent type of ileostomy (12 patients). Less frequent indications were stenosis (6 patients), parastomal ulceration (6 patients), prolapse (4 patients), unsatisfactory siting (3 patients), and parastomal hernia (1 patient). Refashioning of the ileostomy at the same site was possible in 17 patients, whilst repositioning at a new site was required in 30 cases. In 28 of these laparotomy was carried out to enable repositioning, but in two cases resiting was performed without laparotomy. After the original operation, reconstruction may become necessary at any time from a few months to over 20 years.