title: A study of long-term complications associated with enteral ostomy and their contributory factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Complications of ostomy significantly affect the quality of life of ostomates. There is little evidence on the rate of long-term complications in ostomates, especially from the developing countries which include Sri Lanka. This study was aimed to describe the long-term complications of enteral ostomies and their contributory factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was carried out on 192 patients who underwent ostomy creation over a period of 5 years. Data on type of complications, age, sex, type of ostomy, type of surgery and perioperative care by enteric stoma therapist were gathered. Associations were established using Chi square test and multiple logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 192 patients, only 146 patients presented regularly for follow up. The mean follow up duration was 28 months (range: 3-183). Around 34.2% developed surgical long-term complications related to the ostomy. Common complications were prolapse (n = 24, 16.4%), skin excoriation (n = 22, 15.1%) and parastomal hernia (n = 14, 9.6%). Overall complication rate was significantly less in loop ostomies (p < 0.05) and defunctioning ostomies (p < 0.05). Skin excoriation was significantly high in males (p < 0.05) and in ileostomies (p < 0.001). Parastomal hernia was commoner in end ostomies (p < 0.05). Perioperative care by enteric stoma therapist reduced the overall and specific complications (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall complication rate in our cohort of patients was 34.2%. The perioperative care of a stoma therapist may be very effective in preventing complications particularly in a setting with limited resources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, P.O. Box 271, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Umesh
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jayarajah
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, P.O. Box 271, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Asuramuni M P
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Samarasekara
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, P.O. Box 271, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka. samarasekera58@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Dharmabandhu N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Samarasekera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D003125:Colostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011788:Quality of Life; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013188:Sri Lanka; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Complications; Contributory factors; Enteral ostomy; Stoma