Administration of an Oral Hydration Solution Prevents Electrolyte and Fluid Disturbances and Reduces Readmissions in Patients With a Diverting Ileostomy After Colorectal Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Patients with a newly formed ileostomy often develop electrolyte abnormalities and dehydration.

Objective: The study assessed the prophylactic effect of an isotonic hydration solution on dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities in patients with a newly formed ileostomy.

Design: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial (NCT02036346).

Settings: The study was conducted at a single surgical unit of a public university hospital.

Patients: Patients scheduled for elective rectosigmoid resection were considered for study inclusion.

Intervention: Patients in whom a diverting ileostomy was created were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 39), which received an oral isotonic glucose-sodium hydration solution for 40 days postdischarge and the control group (n = 41) which did not receive an intervention. The 2 groups were compared with a group of patients who underwent rectosigmoid resection without diverting ileostomy (n = 37).

Main outcome measures: Serum electrolyte and renal function markers were assessed preoperatively and at 20 and 40 days postdischarge.

Results: At 20 days postdischarge, the serum sodium of the control group appeared lower than the serum sodium of the intervention group and the nonileostomy group (p = 0.007). At the same time point, urea and creatinine levels of the control group were higher than the urea and creatinine levels of the other 2 groups (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02). At 40 days postdischarge, mean sodium and renal function markers improved in the control group, but sodium and creatinine continued to differ in comparison with the intervention and nonileostomy groups (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04). The readmission rate for fluid and electrolyte abnormalities was higher in the control group (24%) than in the other 2 groups, where no rehospitalization for such a reason was required (p = 0.001).

Limitations: The study was limited by its single-center design.

Conclusion: An oral isotonic drink postdischarge can have a prophylactic effect on patients with a newly formed ileostomy, preventing readmission for fluid and electrolyte abnormalities. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A603.