The definitive stoma: complications and treatment in 50 patients.

Intestinal stomas remain required in many operations for inflammatory bowel disease, for colorectal tumours, trauma and diverticulitis. During one year, 50 patients (20 ileostomies and 30 colostomies) underwent an intestinal stoma and were followed by an enterostomal therapist. The morbidity, the local complications and the treatment are analyzed. An appropriate skin protection is mandatory in the early post-operative period after performing ileostomy or right colostomy. The mucocutaneous dehiscence can be treated by local protection. The quality of life of patients with a stoma is improved by information and careful medical attention given by the surgeon and the enterostomal therapist.