[Complications of colostomy in childhood].

The complications of 86 colostomies in 70 patients are reported. The most frequent indications were necrotizing enterocolitis and Hirschsprung's disease. More than half of the children were less than one week of age at the time of surgery. Most frequently transverse colostomies were performed. Most colostomies existed for 1-3 months. In 58% of the children no complications occurred, which could be attributed to the colostomy. Thus, the complication rate of the colostomies was 42%. The most common complications were strictures, adhesions with bowel obstruction, enterocutaneous fistulae, occasionally leading to abscess formation, and candida mycosis.