Treatment of paracolostomy abscesses without proximal diverting colostomy.

Two patients had paracolostomy abscesses limited to the abdominal wall. Adequate drainage was obtained surgically using local anesthesia, but wound contamination from the fecal stream continued. Intravenous hyperalimentation and/or elemental diet reduced fecal volume, promoted wound healing and weight gain, and prevented the need for a proximal defunctionalizing colostomy. During follow-up periods of more than ten months, colostomy revision has not been necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]