Comparison of diverting colostomy and fecal management catheter in fournier gangrene: a retrospective cohort study
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By
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March 18, 2026
Objective:
To compare the effectiveness of colostomy and fecal management catheterization in the treatment of Fournier gangrene and to determine which method offers greater advantages.
Key Findings:
- Mean age was 65.07 ± 13.45 years in the colostomy group and 57.92 ± 14.41 years in the Flexi-Seal group.
- Mean number of debridements was 3.18 ± 2.58 in the colostomy group and 2.54 ± 1.56 in the Flexi-Seal group.
- Mean length of hospital stay was 25.96 ± 16.02 days for colostomy and 20.50 ± 11.15 days for Flexi-Seal.
- Mortality rate was 17.8% in the colostomy group and 11.5% in the Flexi-Seal group.
- No significant differences in outcomes after adjusting for age and FGSI scores.
Interpretation:
Both fecal diversion methods demonstrated comparable effectiveness in treating Fournier gangrene, indicating that neither method is an independent predictor of outcomes.
Limitations:
- Retrospective design may introduce selection bias and limits causal inferences.
- Limited sample size may affect the generalizability of results.
- Lack of randomization between treatment groups.
Conclusion:
Both colostomy and fecal management catheter can be safely employed for Fournier gangrene treatment, with method selection guided by patient-specific factors and clinical experience.
