Purpose: Double-barreled wet colostomy consists of simultaneous urinary and fecal diversions into a lateral colostomy and is indicated after pelvic exenteration or in palliative operations, when complete intestinal and urinary reconstruction is not possible. We report experience at our institution with Double-barreled wet colostomy regarding postoperative and long-term morbidity and mortality.
Methods: All patients who underwent double-barreled wet colostomy construction at our institution from 1980 through 2008 were included in the study. Medical records were reviewed for type and history of the malignant tumor, previous treatments, comorbidity according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists' score, type and length of surgery, length of hospital stay, and postoperative (within 30 days after the operation) and long-term morbidity and mortality.
Results: The study comprised 41 patients. The underlying disease was a malignant pelvic tumor in 30 patients (primary in 6 and recurrent in 24 patients) and a nonmalignant disease in 11 patients. Surgical mortality was 2.4%, and the postoperative morbidity rate was 65.9%. Double-barreled wet colostomy-related morbidity observed during follow-up included pyelonephritis (9.8%, with renal deterioration due to chronic pyelonephritis in 2.4%), stenosis of the uretero-colonic anastomosis (2.4%), and lithiasis in the urine reservoir (7.3%). Follow-up was discontinued after a mean of 18.6 (SD, 19.9) months in 14 patients who had been referred from other centers. A total of 27 patients were followed in our center for a mean of 32.2 (range, 1-156) months. Of these, 7 patients are currently alive, 1 with recurrent disease; 14 patients died from local or distant recurrence; and 6 patients died of causes other than malignancy.
Conclusion: Double-barreled wet colostomy is a safe alternative for patients who need simultaneous urinary and fecal diversion, although the risk of ascending urinary infection must be taken into consideration.