"A CLINICAL STUDY ON POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS OF INTESTINAL STOMAS".

Background:A surgically created or unintentionally formed opening of the intestinal or urinary system onto the abdominal wall is known as intestinal stoma. The connection between the colon and the skin of the abdominal wall is known as a colostomy and when ileum is externalized on the abdomen skin is known as ileostomy. OBJECTIVES: 1) To study different types of intestinal stomas, their indications. 2) To study various complications that occurred after the construction of intestinal stomas. 3) To study the ways how these complications can be minimized and managed in a better way Material & Methods: Study Design: A prospective observational study. Study area: The study was done at surgery department, Subbaiah Institute of Medical Sciences, Shimoga. Study Period: Sep. 2021 - March 2022. Study population: Patients who underwent intestinal stomas either ileostomy or colostomy either in elective or emergency setting with postoperative complications of intestinal stomas. Sample size: 30 cases were included in our study. Sampling method: Simple Random sampling method. Study tools and Data collection procedure: Patients who underwent intestinal stomas either ileostomy or colostomy either in elective or emergency setting with postoperative complications of intestinal stomas were included in the study. The indications for the stoma, temporary, permanent, end or loop or double barrel, ileostomy or colostomy and their complications were recorded. Patients were followed up in the postoperative period for about 6 months or till the revision of stoma for early and late postoperative complications and their complications were recorded and analyzed. Results: Ileostomy was the most common type of stoma (23 out of 30) 76.66% and then colostomy (7 out of 30) 23.33%. Among ileostomy, loop ileostomy was done 10 patients followed by end ileostomy done in 7 patients then double barrel was done in 6 patients. Among colostomy, end colostomy was most commonly done in 6 patients followed by descending loop colostomy done in 1 patient. CONCLUSION: Preoperative stoma site marking for optimal stoma location and proper preoperative education by WOC nurses will increase the patient's independence in stoma care and resumption of normal activities, estimate pouching system wear times, and prevent postoperative complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]