Introduction: As stoma formation is thought to be declining, we performed a study to evaluate the rate of stoma formation and the impact on stoma complication rates, together with risk factors for complications.
Patients and methods: Stoma incidence, individual complications and mortality rates were retrieved from a stoma nurse database of 345 stomas created over an 8-year period.
Results: Stoma formation increased over the study period, although the incidence of complications declined. Stoma complications were more frequently seen in emergency surgery. A significant association between stoma complications and mortality was identified.
Conclusions: Age of patient, urgency of surgery and diagnosis were associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality. Stomas are often formed in frail patients unsuitable for anastomosis formation, which may explain the high mortality in ostomy patients.