OBJECTIVES: To study demographyc caractheristics, morbidity and mortality associated to the procedure. METHODS: Retrospective study of colostomy closure in 42 patients. Male sex was predominant (80,9%) with median age of 42 years. Causes of colostomy were traumatic in 50% and clinic acute abdomen in 29% of the cases. Terminal colostomy was the more frequent procedure (65%) followed by loop colostomy in 35% of the cases. The predominant anastomotic technique was manual (69,05%). The morbidity rate was 26,2%, including reoperation (9,52%) and colonic fistulae in 7,14% cases. No postoperative wound infection was observed. Overall mortality rate was 2,38%. CONCLUSION: The results observed in a university hospital are as good as reported in world literature. Adequate pre and postoperative care works together with surgeon experience on colostomy closure surgeries. The surgical technique must be adopted using a randomized study, allowing establishment of a protocol.
colostomy; colostomy closure; morbidity