Surgery on Children
Beyond fecal diversion: stoma-related morbidity in a cohort of 318 children
By Abdurrahman Urve Uzun and Can İhsan Öztorun.
Abstract
Aims
To evaluate complications occurring between intestinal stoma formation and closure in children and to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with their development.
Methods
This single-center retrospective study included 318 pediatric patients who underwent intestinal stoma formation between January 2019 and December 2025. Demographic and clinical characteristics and complications occurring before stoma closure were analyzed. Groups were compared using Pearson’s chi-square and Welch’s t-tests. Factors associated with complication development were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression.
Results
At least one stoma-related complication occurred in 105 patients (33.0%). Peristomal dermatitis was the most common complication (17.0%), followed by stoma prolapse (6.9%), wound dehiscence (6.3%), bleeding (1.9%), and adhesive/band-related ileus (0.9%). Complications were significantly more frequent following emergency than elective surgery (38.2% vs 21.4%; p=0.003). Patients who developed complications had significantly lower gestational age (37.8±4.2 vs 39.1±4.4 weeks; p=0.011) and birth weight (2360±480 vs 2510±310 g; p=0.004). Among 22 patients with stoma prolapse, eight required surgical intervention, whereas 14 were managed conservatively. In multivariable analysis, emergency surgery was associated with increased odds of complications (OR=2.26), while gestational age (OR=0.27) and birth weight (OR=0.85) showed inverse associations.