Introduction: Intestinal stomas are surgically created openings that allow the external diversion of intestinal contents. They are life-saving in a wide range of abdominal pathologies, including obstruction, perforation, trauma, and malignancy. However, their creation and maintenance are associated with several complications that affect patient morbidity and quality of life. Material and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on 100 patients who underwent intestinal stoma construction at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, between June 2023 and May 2025. Demographic details, indications for stoma construction, type of stoma, postoperative complications, and outcomes were analyzed using a standard proforma. Results: Majority of patients (68%) were males, and most belonged to the 41-60 years age group (55%). Emergency stomas constituted 86% of cases. The most common indication was hollow viscus perforation (38%), followed by intestinal obstruction (30%) and mesenteric ischemia (12%). Loop ileostomy was the most frequently performed type (60%), followed by end ileostomy (15%) and loop colostomy (15%), and then end colostomy (7%), followed by end jejunostomy (3%). Common complications included peristomal dermatitis (51.2%), stoma retraction (12.2%), prolapse (1.2%), and parastomal hernia (3.6%). Overall mortality was 7%. Conclusion: Intestinal stoma construction remains an essential component of emergency and elective abdominal surgeries. Awareness of indications, proper siting, meticulous technique, and patient counseling are vital to reduce complications and improve postoperative patient outcomes.
Patel et al. (Fri,) studied this question.