Colostomy orifice complications: a case report of a prolapsed colostomy with necrosis of the eviscerated greater omentum

Abstract

Evisceration and necrosis of the greater omentum at the site of a prolapsed colostomy is a rare situation. Considered an early stoma complication, it often occurs during the first month after surgery. We report the observation and our attitude to such a situation in a 56-year-old patient who underwent initial surgery for a locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma after receiving neoadjuvant radio-chemotherapy. A loop colostomy for decompression was performed due to large bowel obstruction. On the 10th day after surgery, he was readmitted for an oedematous prolapsed colostomy and a necrotic end of the greater omentum, which eviscerated through the colostomic hole, secondary to severe ascites. Emergency re-intervention involving resection of the prolapsed stoma with the necrotic segment of the omentum was performed. The three factors associated with the development of this rare peri-colostomy complication were: emergency surgery, locally advanced rectal tumor, and increased intra-abdominal pressure.