The aim of the present study was to analyse the complications seen in patients who underwent colostomy and reconstruction of the intestinal tract Fifty six patients, with a mean age of 39 years) were studied _ 37were men and 19 women. The indications for colostomy were: gunshot wounds (35%), perforated diverticulitis (12.5%) and colorectal cancer (12%). Terminal colostomy on the sigmoid colon was the most frequent ostomy performed (71,4%). The mean time for colostomy closure was 5.5 months. In 85.7% of the patients transit reconstruction was performed through an end to end anastomosis, using mechanical suture (in 5 patients), hand sewing (in 51 patients). The rate of complications observed was 25%. The most frequent complications were abdominal wall wound infection (35,7%), fistulas (28.6%) and haemorrhage (21.4%). It was concluded that reconstruction of the intestinal tract carries a high risk of complication and infection continues to be a great challenge in these procedures.
Colostomy; Postoperative complications; Wound Healing
