STOMA CLOSURE AND WOUND-INFECTION - AN EVALUATION OF RISK-FACTORS

Objective: To assess the infection rate in the nonstoma wound in patie nts who undergo stoma closure. Design: Chart review. Setting: A tertia ry-care hospital. Patients: Ninety-five patients who underwent electiv e closure of an abdominal wall stoma requiring a separate abdominal in cision. Interventions: Elective general surgery procedures. Main Outco me Measure: Wound infection rate. Results: The overall wound infection rate was 29%. Primary wound closure was associated with a markedly in creased wound infection rate (41%) compared with delayed primary or se condary wound closure (15%). No other preoperative factor specifically predicted a high rate of postoperative nonstoma wound infection. Conc lusions: The nonstoma wound during elective closure of an abdominal st oma is at high risk for infection postoperatively. Delayed primary or secondary closure may lessen this risk.