MORBIDITY OF TWISTED LOOP ILEOSTOMY

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the morbidity of twi sted loop ileostomy (TLI). Between 1985 and 1994, 83 TLI were performe d in 79 patients. Before TLI closure, 13 patients (16%) presented comp lications, requiring surgery in 5 cases. Small bowel obstruction (7 ca ses: 8%) and high stoma output (4 cases: 5%) were the commonest compli cations. After stoma closure (performed in 76 cases), 8 patients (10.5 %) presented complications, requiring surgery in 3 cases. The most com monest complication was enteric fistula (4 cases: 5.3%) requiring reop eration in 2 cases. This procedure adds a separate set of postoperativ e complications, which tend to be minor in nature without any permanen t sequelae and which can be minimized by a meticulous surgical techniq ue. This technique remains a safe and effective procedure for fecal di version.