The morbidity and mortality of colostomy closure

Restrospective analysis was done of 304 patients who underwent colostomy closure at Henry Ford Hospital between 1967 and 1977. A mortality of less than 0.3 per cent and a morbidity rate of 14 per cent, with an average hospital stay of 15 days, is hereby reported. Wound infection was the most common complication with an incidence of 9.5 per cent. Late complications during the study period were less than 3 per cent. In our experience, if and intraperitoneal closure technique with resectiona and anastomosis is used, colostomy closure can be a safe procedure with minimal mortality and morbidity. We believe colostomy closure should be considered as nothing less than a major colonic resection.