Protective ileostomy in rectal cancer surgery - is it really temporary?

Abstract

Aim: This single-center retrospective study aimed to evaluate the rate of protective ileostomy closure in patients with rectosigmoid junction/rectal cancer and to investigate the factors that prevent ileostomy reversal. Material and Method: Patients with rectal cancer treated with/without neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were included in this study. All were treated with anterior rectal resection and temporary protective ileostomy creation. Decision for ileostomy closure was brought upon predefined ileostomy closure protocol. Results: Total number of 115 patients (17 with rectosigmoid junction and 98 with rectal cancer) were operated. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was conducted in 90 of them. Ileostomy closure rate was 73.9%. Mean time for stoma closure in patients with chemoradiotherapy conduction was 227.8 days, while in the rest, time was shorter (168.3 days), without statistical difference. Multivariate analysis revealed that endoscopic examination of the anastomosis during its creation was independent prognostic factor that affected ileostomy closure. Conclusion: More than one quarter of the patients with protective ileostomy experienced non-closure of their stoma due to various events after index rectal cancer surgery. Endoscopic examination of the anastomosis during its creation presented as independent factor affecting ileostomy closure.