Early and Late Complications of Colostomy: A Mini Review

Abstract

Background: Colostomy is a commonly performed surgical procedure used for fecal diversion in patients with benign or malignant gastrointestinal diseases, particularly in emergency colorectal surgery. Although colostomy formation may be considered technically straightforward procedure, it can be associated with several early and late complications that significantly affect patient recovery, stoma care, and quality of life. Early complications include inappropriate stoma siting, peristomal dermatitis, parastomal ulceration, stoma necrosis, and stoma retraction, while late complications include stomal prolapse, stomal stenosis, peristomal pyoderma gangrenosum, and parastomal hernia. These complications may result from patient-related factors such as obesity, poor nutritional status, inflammatory bowel disease, steroid therapy, wound sepsis, and increased intra-abdominal pressure, as well as technical factors related to stoma construction, bowel tension, and trephine size. Proper preoperative stoma site marking, careful surgical technique, adequate bowel mobilization, and postoperative stoma care are essential to reduce morbidity and improve patient outcomes. This review highlights the major complications of colostomy, their risk factors, prevention, and management.