Early postoperative complications of elective versus emergency stoma creation: a tertiary academic center experience.

Background: Stoma creation is standard in general surgery, yet complication rates remain high.

Purpose: This study investigated the incidence and risk factors for early postoperative stoma complications in elective vs emergency surgery.

Methods: All patients who underwent stoma creation between June 2015 and November 2020 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the surgery type: elective vs emergency.

Results: A total of 375 patients were included in this study. Two hundred fifty-three patients (67.5%) underwent elective stoma creation, while 122 (32.5%) underwent stoma creation during an emergency surgery. In the emergency group, white blood cell, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels were statistically significantly higher (P = .001, .001, and .002, respectively). Albumin levels were statistically significantly lower in the emergency group (P = .001). The mean Emergency Surgery Score was 5.17 ± 2.73 in the emergency group compared to 4.4 ± 2.44 in the elective group (P = .006). Colorectal cancer was the most common cause of stoma creation in both groups. In terms of stoma creation, colostomy was statistically significantly more common in the emergency group (59%, P = .001), compared to ileostomy in the elective group (58.9%, P = .001). Complications were observed in 135 of all patients (36%). Necrosis was statistically significantly more common in emergency cases (9.9%, P < .001).

Conclusion: Surgeons should strive to optimize the patient's condition prior to the operation and, if possible, perform stoma marking or involve a stoma nurse in the operating room to select the most suitable site. In high-risk patients, where complications are more likely, the use of a stoma should be minimized and definitive management should always be pursued if feasible.