Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the type and frequency of end colostomy-related complications and to identify the risk factors for those complications.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records was made in 708 patients who underwent end colostomy in Samsung Medical Center between October 1994 and February 2005. The type was divided into stomal and peristomal complications: stomal complications included bleeding, necrosis, mucocutaneous separation, prolapsed stoma, retraced stoma, stenosis, and hyperplasia; peristomal complications did peristomal varix, peristomal hernia, irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, maceration, folliculitis,, hyperplasia, bacterial infection, candidal infection, malignancy in the peristomal area, mechanical damage and pyoderma gangrenosum. Results: For stomal complications, hyperplasia was most common(9.0%). For peristomal complications, irritant contact dermatitis was developed in 17.4%. Sex and BMI were risk factors for irritant contact dermatitis, hyperplasia, peristomal hernia, flat stoma, and retracted stoma. Conclusion,: Teaching for preventing irritant contact dermatitis such as proper pouching and peristomal skin protection, and for comprehensive weight control should be emphasized on self care program for ostomates, while ostomy care nurse should take a careful consideration of preoperative ostomy site marking in female obese patients.