Enterostomy in necrotizing enterocolitis: an analysis of techniques and timing of closure

Resection and enterostomy are the standard operative procedures for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). In order to compare the results of two different methods of enterostomy, a study was carried out in 100 infants with NEC who underwent enterostomy formation and closure. A single surgeon at each of the two collaborating institutions conducted the majority of operations. Level of enterostomy was jejunum in 10, ileum in 75, and colon in 15. Type of enterostomy was separate stomas (usually brought out side by side) in 50, Mikulicz enterostomy in 39, single stoma with Hartmann's pouch in 10, and loop colostomy in 1. Complications of enterostomy formation occurred in 24 infants (24%). When infants with separate stomas were compared with those with the Mikulicz enterostomy, there was no difference in the rate of stomal or wound complications. The separate stomas had a higher rate of stricture formation in the distal bowel (36% v 18%), which may be accounted for by earlier reestablishment of intestinal continuity in the Mikulicz group. Both methods exteriorized the bowel ends close to one another, which was advantageous because subsequent closure was usually performed without a formal laparotomy. After enterostomy closure, 17 (17%) infants had complications. There was no difference in complication rate between early (before 3 months or under 2.5 kg) v late closure, or between closure of the Mikulicz enterostomy v separate stomas (although the Mikulicz enterostomy closure was accomplished more rapidly than closure of separate stomas). Morbidity was unrelated to level of enterostomy, type of enterostomy, maturing the stoma, bringing it through a separate incision, or age or weight of the infant at closure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)