In our approach to enterostomy, the intestine is anchored only by a strip of gauze packed into the subcutaneous space. No suturing is performed. The efficacy of this technique was evaluated in 21 infants with less than 1000 g of body weight who have intestinal perforation or obstruction.
Two patients (9.5 % ) had complications that were related to the enterostomy. The complications were parastomal and intrastomal intestinal prolapse, both of which were treated successfully by reoperation. Eighteen patients (86 % ) survived to closure of the enterostoma.
Intestinal anchoring with gauze is an easy and effective technique for enterostomy in extremely low-birth-weight infants and can be applied in selected cases.