Enterostomy complications in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) surgery, a retrospective chart review at Odense University Hospital

BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate the incidence of postoperative complications to surgery for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) with primary focus on enterostomy related complications. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of surgically treated NEC during the period from 2008 to 2014 was performed. Enterostomy with secondary anastomosis was our standard treatment. Postoperative complications were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo Classification (CDC). RESULTS: Forty-two cases were included in the study. NEC was most frequently located in the small bowel and the length of resected intestine was median 15 cm (2–50). Thirty-nine (93%) patients received an ileostomy and the rest a colostomy. Twenty-two (52%) patients underwent a total of 35 reoperations, and 25 (71%) of these were stoma related with stenosis was the most frequent cause, other causes of reoperation were re-NEC, high-output ileostomy, Ileus and second look. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of reoperation due to complications was high and most often caused by stoma related complications.