Аннотация
BACKGROUND: An intestinal stoma is one of the necessary therapeutic stages following bowel resection for acute abdominal surgical conditions in children. It facilitates the postoperative course. The next treatment stage is the restoration of intestinal continuity. Both formation and closure of an intestinal stoma may be associated with various complications. AIM: This work aimed to analyze the causes of intestinal stoma–related complications in children based on data from a regional pediatric hospital providing tertiary specialized medical care. METHODS: We reviewed the surgical management of 62 children treated in the surgical department of a regional multidisciplinary pediatric hospital and a regional perinatal center between 2015 and 2024. Based on stoma level, patients were classified as follows: jejunostomy — 13 children; ileostomy — 47; colostomy — 2. An end stoma was created in 42 children; a double-barrel stoma according to Mikulicz (J. Mikulicz) in 10; a Santulli–Blanc stoma in 4; and a Bishop–Koop stoma in 6 patients. RESULTS: After stoma formation, complications occurred in 22 children (35.4%), including: stoma obstruction in 1 child, stoma retraction in 3, stoma necrosis in 1, peristomal skin irritation in 12, stoma stenosis in 2, mucosal prolapse in 2, and stoma-wall fistula in 1. After stoma closure, complications were observed in 18 children (29%): anastomotic leak in 2 cases (3.2%), adhesive small-bowel obstruction in 4 (6.4%), surgical wound infection in 7 (11.3%), and prolonged functional bowel obstruction in 5 children (8%). CONCLUSION: Formation and closure of an intestinal stoma are associated with a range of complications. Strict adherence to surgical technique during stoma formation is essential for preventing complications and ensuring a favorable postoperative course. To reduce the number of postoperative complications, it is essential to perform stoma closure within the appropriate timeframe and to select the optimal anastomosis technique.