[Morbidity and mortality following intraperitoneal closure of transverse loop colostomy (author's transl)]

The postoperative course of 104 patients, who underwent closure of a transverse loop colostomy at the Surgical Department of the Teaching Hospital Herford between 1974 and 1980 after distal resection and anastomosis of the large bowel for neoplastic or diverticular disease has been reviewed in detail. The mortality was 0.9% and the morbidity rate was 25%, including 25% wound infections and 4.8% fecal fistulas. The highest complication rate was noted, when colostomies were closed during the first 6 weeks. Wound infections and fecal fistulae did not occur more frequently than in patients with diverticulitis. The intraperitoneal procedure of transverse loop colostomy closure can be recommended as to be straightforward and safe.