Long-term results of ileostomy in older patients.

Surgical alternatives to proctocolectomy and ileostomy appear to be associated with poor functional results in older patients. Surprisingly, little has been written regarding the long-term results of conventional ileostomy in the elderly. Questionnaires were sent to all patients requiring ileostomy between 1966 and 1980. Six hundred seventy-five patients responded (81 percent). Sixty-seven (10 percent) of the respondents were 60 years of age or older at the time of surgery. In all categories dealing with quality of life assessment, the group of older patients fared as well or better than those younger than age 60. Older patients, however, reported greater difficulty in daily management of their stomas (P less than 0.01). Patients 60 years of age or older tolerate ileostomy well, but care of the stoma can cause problems. Occupational and activity restrictions, however, are no more prevalent in older patients than in their younger counterparts.