[Colonic irrigation for colostomies. Results of a national survey among 795 colostomized patients]

Colonic irrigation (CI) represents the procedure of choice for patients with a colostomy. Recent technical advances (irrigation kit) have provided patients with simple, safe and effective material, allowing a new expansion of this old concept. A total of 795 colostomates (from association's data base) were assessed by questionnaires 386 (49%) of them used CI: 43.5% of patients operated before 1980 and 50% after 1980 (p < 0.005). Two thirds of patients performed Cl every two days, in the morning, with one liter or less of water, for 45 to 60 minutes. No morbidity was reported. Some patients (18%) stopped the procedure deliberately, but none due to a complication. Total continence during 48 H was observed in 48.4% of patients. Wearing a classical stomabag after CI must be considered to be a precaution rather than a failure. However one half of patients wore a simplified material (minibag, obturator, sticking plaster). The vast majority of patients (86%) claimed to be entirely satisfied with CI and 96% wanted to continue the procedure as long as possible.