Introduction: Low anterior resection (LAR) with total mesorectal excision (TME) represents the gold standard for patients with low rectal carcinoma. Protective ileostomy (PI) is commonly performed during LAR in an effort to protect low rectal anastomosis. The aim of this study is to analyse outcomes in our own patient population, focusing on morbidity associated with PI.
Method: A retrospective clinical study of patients operated on between 2013 and 2015 was conducted in University Hospital Ostrava. All patients after LAR with PI due to low rectal cancer were included. The study design did not require randomisation.
Results: A total of 52 patients who underwent LAR with PI were included. Mean tumour height was 9.1±2.3 cm. 15.4% of the patients were classified as ASA I, 53.8% were classified as ASA II and 32.7% of the patients as ASA III. 30-day postoperative morbidity was 38.5%, and complications associated with PI (within 30 days after LAR) occurred in 7 (13.5%) patients. Three of these patients underwent urgent surgical revision due to small bowel obstruction (PI semirotation around its longitudinal axis in two patients and volvulus of the small bowel around PI in one patient). Mean time interval between PI creation and reversal was 252 days. During this period, complications associated with PI were detected in 25 (48.1%) patients; seven patients had more than one complication. Minor complications (such as peristomal dermatitis, stoma herniation or bleeding, wound infection after stoma reversal) were observed in 17 (32.7%) patients. Major complications (small bowel obstruction at the site of PI, dehydration due to high stoma output, intraabdominal abscess after stoma reversal) occurred in 8 (15.4%) patients.
Conclusions: PI offers protection to low colorectal or coloanal anastomosis in rectal cancer surgery. However, this benefit is counterbalanced by a high risk of various complications which may occur during the whole period when PI is present. The decision for diversion should therefore be made only after careful consideration.Key words: rectal cancer - low anterior resection - laparoscopy - protective ileostomy - stoma complications.