Intestinal Ostomies Created During Emergency Surgery Possess Unique Challenges

Abstract Background: The surgical creation of an artificial opening of the bowel, called ostomy, can become necessary for very different causative diseases. A special subgroup are ostomies created during emergency surgery, which pose particular challenges to affected patients. This work is dedicated to their detailed characterization.Methods: A retrospective analysis of surgical ostomy creations at an acute care university hospital and an online survey for patients with an ostomy were performed and evaluated.Results: In our study, about one third of all ostomies were created during emergency surgery (37.4%). Compared to patients who received an ostomy during elective surgery, emergency patients had a higher ASA score and diagnoses requiring acute surgical care. Patients undergoing emergency surgery were more likely to have inadequate preoperative medical education (60% vs. 33.3%, p=0.029), and rarely received preoperative ostomy marking (4% vs. 79.2%, p<0.001). Emergency patients underwent minimally invasive surgery less frequently (26.8% vs. 51.3%, p=0.001), and showed a higher rate of peristomal wound dehiscence (9.9% vs. 2.5%, p=0.028). Accordingly, emergency ostomies often resulted in an overall reduction in postoperative quality of life.Conclusion: Ostomies are often created during emergency surgery under suboptimal perioperative conditions. This results in higher complication rates and negative physical and psychological effects. Therefore, intensive interdisciplinary care is essential to provide the best possible care for patients affected by these artificially created intestinal outlets.