Early versus delayed stoma closure: A prospective study

Background: Stoma is often constructed in emergency surgical conditions like enteric or tubercular perforations when patients present late in the course of illness to preclude primary closure. The early closure of stoma can minimize the associated morbidity and help the patient to enjoy better quality of life. The aim of our study was to compare the outcome of early stoma closure with delayed closure. Methods: The present study was conducted in the Postgraduate Department of Surgery, Government Medical College, Jammu with effect from 1st july 2016 to 30st june2017. The study was conducted on 32 patients on whom temporary stoma was performed. Patients were divided into two groups with 16 patients in each group after matching the parameters like age, sex, co morbid conditions, using simple random sampling technique. Parameters analyzed were Duration of surgery, stoma related complications, intra and post operative complications and hospital stay. Results: The mean age of patients in group A (early stoma closure) was 30.20±10.08 years while in group B (delayed stoma closure) was 38.03±12.60. The number males patients in group A was 10 while no females was 6 whereas in Group B number of males was 12 and females were 4. Cause of stoma formation was enteric perforation 18(56.25%), tubercular abdomen 6(37.5%), caecal perforation 1(6.25%), trauma 2(12.5%), defunctioning stoma 3(12.56%). The duration of surgery in group A was 52±0.50min and in group B was 70±0.80min. The difference was statistically significant between group A and B (p