Publication:

A clinical study of colostomies in infancy and childhood in a tertiary centre

Background The word stoma is derived from the Greek word stoma meaning mouth or opening. Intestinal stoma are surgically created opening that connect part of gastro-intestinal tract with the anterior abdominal wall. The use of various types of colostomies can be lifesaving. Since at our centre we regularly perform colostomies in treatment of various conditions in paediatric age group, this clinical study was undertaken.

Methods This clinical study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery at College of Medicine and JNM Hospital, Nadia. The study was conducted during the period from August 2018 to July 2019. The patients aged day 1 to 12 years were admitted.

Results In the one year study period, 33 cases of paediatric colostomies were performed. 17 (51.5%) were male and 16 (48.5%) were females. Majority of the patients at the time of colostomy were in the early neonatal period. A total of 22 (66.6%) cases underwent colostomy at our hospital and 11 (33.4%) patients had undergone colostomy elsewhere. Majority of the cases who had undergone colostomy were of sigmoid loop variety and 9 patients (27.3%) had transverse loop colostomy. A total of 12 patients (36.36%) suffered post colostomy major complications needing attention.

Conclusions The child is a socio-psycho-biological unit and colostomy leads to substantial psychological trauma for the child and parents. Careful examination is the key to diagnosis and initial management. An appropriately indicated, properly constructed temporary stoma is frequently unavoidable and lifesaving.