Defunctioning stoma

Intestinal stomas are widely used in the treatment of colorectal disease si nce they are relatively easy to construct and are supposed to increase the safety of colorectal surgery. During the past 50 years there have been seve ral improvements in operative technique and stoma management but despite th ese advances there remains appreciable morbidity associated with the constr uction of stomas. Increasing awareness of the morbidity associated with ent eral stomas has led to greater questioning of the need for temporary stomas . This paper reviews the indications and surgical technique as well as the morbidity associated with loop colostomy and ileostomy.