ASSESSMENT OF THE CAUSATIVE FACTORS CAUSING COMPLICATIONS AFTER ILLEOSTOMY CLOSURE

Objectives: To evaluate the causes of complications after ileostomy reversal. Study design: An observational study. Place and duration: In the Surgical department of Nishtar Hospital Multan for one -year duration from April 2019 to April 2020. Methodology: The study included 46 consecutive patients who underwent ileostomy reversal within one year. We excluded patients under 12 years of age, patients who were confined within 6 weeks, and patients with additional, unrelated surgical intervention. All patients were followed up at weekly intervals for one month. The main endpoint was the occurrence of surgical complications within 30 days of reversal. Results: A series of 46 post-ileostomy closures were analyzed to evaluate factors contributing to morbidity and mortality. There were no deaths, but the complication rate was 10.9% (5 patients), with the most common complications being wound infection (4.35%) and anastomotic leak (4.35%) and paralytic ileus (2.17%). Primary closure of the stoma site, the technique of anastomotic closure, type of stoma, and the surgeon's experience were significant contributing factors. Conclusion: We concluded that ileostomy closure has few complications but no mortality. The techniques of closure of the anastomotic site, type of stoma, surgeon's experience, and skin closure technique were predictors of complications. Key words: ileostomy closure, anastomotic leak, ileostomy stroma.