Stapled ileostomy closure results in reduction of postoperative morbidity

Abstract

Background: Loop ileostomy is widely employed as a defunctioning procedure for left-sided colonic anastomoses. Closure of the stoma carries a risk of morbidity and even mortality. The aim of this prospective trial was to evaluate the ability of stapled stoma closure to decrease the rates of perioperative morbidity.

Methods: One hundred and nineteen patients (mean age 56.2 +/- 5.4 years) underwent two-stage operations for rectal carcinoma with protective loop ileostomy between 2005 and 2008. All patients were randomly divided into two groups: 56 patients had conventional ileostomy takedown, while in the other 63, a functional end-to-end anastomosis was created using a linear stapler. Groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, body mass index, and other parameters.

Results: Mean time of stoma closure using functional end-to-end anastomosis was 68 +/- 7, when compared to 92 +/- 11 min (P = 0.01) for conventional stoma closure. The overall morbidity rate after ileostomy closure using a stapler was 3.2%: one patient (1.6%) developed a wound infection and self-limited bleeding from the anastomotic line, while another patient (1.6%) had an ileal obstruction caused by adhesions and required additional intervention. Conventional ileostomy closure resulted in a 14.3% morbidity rate: six patients (10.7%) had prolonged ileus, 2 (3.6%) had small bowel obstruction, and 2 (3.6%) had wound infections (P = 0.04).

Conclusion: Functional end-to-end anastomosis reduces operating time and morbidity compared to conventional ileostomy takedown.