Colostomy closure: still a hazardous procedure

Seventy nine patients with closure of a loop (51 patients) or a terminal (28 patients) colostomy were reviewed retrospectively. Operative mortality was 2.5%. Wound infection in 19% and anastomotic breakdown in 7.7% were the most important postoperative complications. Restoring continuity after a Hartmann intervention, closure of left sided colostomies and early closure (before 12 weeks) all accounted for a statistically significant higher complication rate, while age and sex, the underlying disease, bowel preparation and the method of closure had no influence on the operative outcome.