Title of the research: Vessel Loops in Pediatric Stoma Closure: Improving Healing and Reducing Complications

Background : Pediatric stoma closure often leads to notable postoperative complications, such as wound seroma, infection, and dehiscence. The use of vessel loops has been suggested to enhance wound drainage and minimize discomfort, potentially leading to better outcomes. Methods : A retrospective cohort study was carried out at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Jeddah, involving 32 pediatric patients who underwent stoma closure from January 2021 to April 2024. Among these, 14 patients had vessel loop-assisted closures, while 18 underwent conventional methods. The analysis covered demographics, comorbidities, surgical details, and postoperative outcomes, including seroma, wound infection, dehiscence, rehospitalization, and reoperation rates. Results : The average age at surgery was 2.04 ± 2.04 years, with an average weight of 10.15 ± 7 kg, and 59.4% of the cohort were male. Vessel loops were predominantly utilized in patients without comorbidities (42.9% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.05). The overall complication rates were 35.7% for the vessel loop group and 38.9% for the conventional group (p > 0.05). The most common complication was wound seroma (14.3% vs. 27.8%), with all cases in the vessel loop group managed conservatively with home-based care. No significant differences were noted between the groups in terms of infection, dehiscence, rehospitalization, or reoperation rates. Conclusion : Vessel loop-assisted closure is a safe and effective technique in pediatric stoma surgeries, promoting wound drainage, minimizing discomfort, allowing for home-based care, and achieving satisfactory cosmetic results without increasing complications. These findings support wider adoption of the technique in pediatric surgical practice.