title: [Colostomy closure: is it an intervention without risk?].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether colostomy closure is an operation with a high risk of complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of colostomy closures in a 14-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 patients, averaging 54 years, males in 63%. The main indication for colostomy was colorectal neoplasm (47%), followed by trauma (23%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 15 Hartman's procedure reconstructions, 4 reconstructions of colostomy and mucous fistula, and 41 "simple" colostomy closures. The closure was extraperitoneal in 40%, suturing only the anterior colonic wall in 42%. We had 27 postoperative complications in 33% of the patients, without mortality. The average hospital stay was 8 days longer in the group with complications. The complication rate was 29% in the "simple" closure versus 42% in the reconstruction group (this difference was not statistically significant). The statistic analysis (chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests) showed no influence on morbidity of factors such as age, sex, previous disease, age of colostomy, and type and closure technique of colostomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colostomy closure has a high rate of postoperative complications (33%). These are minor in almost all cases, without mortality.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital General de Galicia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Paredes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caínzos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parada
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paulos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Potel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003125:Colostomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012086:Reoperation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
vernacular_title: Cierre de colostomía: es una intervención sin riesgo?