Background/aims: Ostomy creation is a fundamental technique. However, little information is available concerning the procedure and the associated complications. We reviewed the relationship between the ostomy procedure and complications.
Methodology: The records of patients who were diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and underwent ostomy creation between January 2007 and July 2012 were reviewed. Stoma complications, including muco-cutaneous dehiscence, fistula and granulation were also reviewed.
Results: The study included 176 patients who received interrupted sutures with removal of the stitches and 202 patients who received subcutaneous sutures without removal of the stitches. Among the patients with buried sutures, 108 received braided absorbable sutures and 94 received with mono filament absorbable sutures. The incidence of dehiscence was significantly higher with the interrupted sutures (43.2%) than with the buried sutures (31.2%), although the granulation and fistula rates were not significantly different. Among the patients with buried sutures, fistula (6.4%) and granulation (21.3%) rates were slightly increased with the mono filament sutures compared with the braided sutures, although the differences were not significant. CONCLUSIONS. Suture removal appeared to be an unnecessary manipulation at ostomy creation. Further study for all colorectal surgery is needed to investigate whether the incidence of fistula increases with buried sutures.