Background: In patients with colorectal cancer, a defunctioning ileostomy is commonly constructed to reduce anastomotic complications. However, many patients do not undergo a subsequent procedure to have their temporary stoma closed.
Objective: This study investigated the incidence of nonclosure of ileostomies and identified factors associated with nonclosure.
Design: This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.
Setting: This study was conducted at a tertiary referral cancer hospital.
Patients: A total of 296 patients who received anterior resection with a defunctioning ileostomy with protective intention from 2006 to 2013 were included.
Main outcome measures: The primary outcomes measured were the incidence of nonclosure of ileostomy and associated risk factors.
Results: Patients were followed for a median time of 29 months (range, 21-100 months). At the end of the study, 51 (17.2%) patients were left with a permanent ileostomy. The median time interval from the creation of a defunctioning ileostomy to closure was 192 days (range, 14-865 days). Multivariate analyses using a logistic regression model showed that metastatic diseases (OR, 0.179, p < 0.001), Charlson Comorbidity Index score >1 (OR, 0.268; p < 0.01), and complications from the index surgery (OR, 0.391; p = 0.013) were significant independent risk factors for failing to close a defunctioning ileostomy.
Limitations: Although our study has a large patient cohort, it is limited by its retrospective nature. It is difficult to fully evaluate stoma complications after hospital discharge, and the prevalence may be underestimated.
Conclusion: One in 6 temporary ileostomies constructed during an elective anterior resection for rectal cancer was not closed. Patients should be told before the index surgery that there is a risk of nonclosure and possible complications associated with permanent ileostomy.