Outcome of ileostomy performed among emergency cases: A prospective cross-sectional study in India

Ileostomy is a life-saving procedure often performed in emergency settings for complicated cases such as ileal perforation, particularly due to enteric fever and intestinal tuberculosis. We conducted a prospective study between October 2018 and September 2020, including 57 patients who underwent temporary ileostomy for faecal diversion in emergency laparotomies. The majority of patients were male, with common presenting symptoms being abdominal pain, fever and vomiting. Postoperative complications were frequent, the most common being skin excoriation and ileostomy diarrhoea, while the overall mortality rate was 3.51% and the average hospital stay was 10-14 days. Despite these challenges, temporary ileostomy remains an effective and essential intervention in critically ill patients, with manageable complications and favourable outcomes.