Low complication rate of colostomy closures

Colostomy closure, a procedure often relegated to the less experienced member of the surgical team, is not a benign procedure. Early reports in the literature have clearly indicated that colostomy closure is attended by an exorbitantly high complication rate. The complication rate of 12% at the Medical Center of Central Georgia from 1972 to 1977 was very much lower than those reported in the literature in the past decade. We believe this relatively low rate of complication is basically due to: (1) proper mechanical and chemical preparation of the colon preoperatively, (2) delayed primary closure of wounds, and (3) meticulous attention to detail in surgical technic.