The impact of postoperative complications severity on stoma reversal following sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Currently, the relationship between temporary stoma reversal and the severity of postoperative complications (POCs) after the index surgery based on the Clavien-Dindo classification has not yet been explored. METHODS: From July 2010 to June 2016, 380 patients undergoing sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer with a temporary stoma in our hospital were included. Temporary stoma nonclosure rates, disease-free survival rates, and overall survival rates were estimated utilizing the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Of all the 380 patients, primary stomas were created in 335 patients and secondary stomas in 45 patients. After the index surgery, 36.6% (139/380) of patients developed at least one postoperative complication. In the first analysis, which included all the patients, 24.7% of temporary stomas remained unclosed. In the second analysis for 335 patients with a primary stoma, 23.3% were left with unclosed stomas. After the COX regression analysis, both major POCs and minor POCs were found to be independent risk factors for the permanent stoma, and there was an increasing tendency toward the risk of permanent stoma with the increase in POC severity. CONCLUSION: POCs are independent predictors of permanent stoma after rectal cancer surgery. Even minor POCs may affect the outcome, while there is a clear direct relationship between POC severity and permanent stoma rates.

Clinical characteristics and predictors of permanent stoma in rectal cancer patients underwent anterior resections: the value of preoperative prognostic nutritional index.

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to investigate the correlation between preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and permanent stoma (PS) in patients with defunctioning stoma (DS) after anterior resections and, based on it, to reveal the clinical value of PNI on clinical strategies about the selection of stoma location. METHODS: A total of 281 consecutive rectal cancer patients who accepted anterior resection and DS in the National Hepatobiliary and Enteric Surgery Research Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from June 2008 to June 2018 were enrolled in this study. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for PNI was performed to discriminate PS. Univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted to identify the clinical characteristics and risk factors for PS. Specific reasons for patients with DS turned into PS were reviewed. RESULTS: ROC curve analysis defined PNI cutoff level of 45.85 corresponding to PS (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.71, 77% sensitivity, 56.9% specificity). Low PNI (OR = 3.23, P = 0.005), tumor crossing the peritoneal reflection (PR) (OR = 3.42, P = 0.003), postoperative distant metastasis (OR = 6.31, P < 0.001) were independently associated with PS. Besides, anastomotic complications (31.4%), poor oncological outcomes (35.3%), and personal preferences (33.3%) were the specific reasons for patients turning into PS. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative PNI is an independent prognostic factor to predict PS in patients who underwent anterior resection and DS. Therefore, combined with other clinical characteristics and predictors, preoperative measurements of PNI could provide a significant support for clinical decision on patients prepared to accept anterior resection and DS.

Advantages of Early Preventive Ileostomy Closure after Total Mesorectal Excision Surgery for Rectal Cancer: An Institutional Retrospective Study of 123 Consecutive Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Preventive ileostomy is frequently constructed to minimizethe consequences of anastomotic leakage after resection of rectal cancer. There is no consensus regarding the best timing for temporary stoma closure after proctectomy for rectal cancer. This retrospective study sought to determine whether the timing of stoma closure influenced postoperative outcomes. METHODS: Subjects were 123 patients with rectal cancer undergoing laparoscopic or open total mesorectal excision surgery with preventive ileostomy from 2012 to 2015. They were divided into 2 groups according the timing of stoma closure: the standard group who had closure within 90 (60-120) days (n = 78) and the late group who had closure after 180 (150-210) days (n = 45). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in operative time, operative blood loss or postoperative complications between the 2 groups. Timing of postoperative fasting and length of hospital stay was similar in both groups. Adjuvant chemotherapy was not a risk factor for postoperative complications after stoma closure. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference between different timings of temporary stoma closure in relation to postoperative complications. Delayed stoma closure showed no benefit in prevention of morbidity. Early closure is safe and can provide better quality of life for patients.

Abdominal wall closure after a stomal reversal procedure.

The closure of a temporary stoma involves 2 different surgical procedures: the stoma reversal procedure and the abdominal wall reconstruction of the stoma site. The management of the abdominal wall has different areas that should be analyzed such us how to avoid surgical site infection (SSI), the technique to be used in case of a concomitant hernia at the stoma site or to prevent an incisional hernia in the future, how to deal with the incision when the stoma reversal procedure is performed by laparoscopy and how to close the skin at the stoma site. The aim of this paper is to analyze these aspects in relation to abdominal wall reconstruction during a stoma reversal procedure.

Development of a Risk Score to Predict Anastomotic Leak After Left-Sided Colectomy: Which Patients Warrant Diversion?

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic leak is a feared complication after left-sided colectomy, but its risk can potentially be reduced with the use of a diverting ostomy. However, an ostomy has its own associated negative sequelae; therefore, it is critical to appropriately identify patients to divert. This is difficult in practice since many risk factors for anastomotic leak exist and outside factors bias this decision. We aimed to develop and validate a risk score to predict an individual's risk of anastomotic leak and aid in the decision. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Colectomy Targeted PUF was queried from 2012 to 2016 for patients undergoing elective left-sided resection for malignancy, benign neoplasm, or diverticular disease. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of anastomotic leak in non-diverted patients, and a risk score was developed and validated. RESULTS: 38,475 patients underwent resection with an overall anastomotic leak rate of 3%. Independent risk factors for anastomotic leak included younger age, male sex, tobacco use, and omission of combined bowel preparation. A risk score incorporating independent predictors demonstrated excellent calibration. There was strong visual correspondence between predicted and observed anastomotic leak rates. 3960 patients underwent resection with diversion, yet over half of these patients had a predicted leak rate of less than 4%. CONCLUSION: A novel risk score can be used to stratify patients according to anastomotic leak risk after elective left-sided resection. Intraoperative calculation of scores for patients can help guide surgical decision-making in both diverting the highest risk patients and avoiding diversion in low-risk patients.

Prophylactic mesh placement to avoid incisional hernias after stoma reversal: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To provide an overview of the available literature on prevention of incisional hernias after stoma reversal, with the use of prophylactic meshes. METHODS: A literature search of Pubmed, MEDLINE and EMBASE was performed. Search terms for stoma, enterostomy, mesh, prophylaxis and hernia were used. Search was updated to December 31th 2018. No time limitations were used, while English, Geman, Dutch and French were used as language restrictions. The primary outcome was the incidence of incisional hernia formation after stoma reversal. Secondary outcomes were mesh-related complications. Data on study design, sample size, patient characteristics, stoma and mesh characteristics, duration of follow-up and outcomes were extracted from the included articles. RESULTS: A number of 241 articles were identified and three studies with 536 patients were included. A prophylactic mesh was placed in 168 patients to prevent incisional hernias after stoma reversal. Follow-up ranged from 10 to 21 months. The risk of incisional hernia in case of prophylactic mesh placement was significantly lower in comparison to no mesh placement (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.04-0.27, p < 0.001, I2 = 0%, CI 0-91.40%). No differences in surgical site infections were detected between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a prophylactic mesh seems to reduce the risk on incisional hernias after stoma reversal and therefore mesh reinforcement should be considered after stoma reversal.

Loop Transverse Colostomy - A Modified Technique.

BACKGROUND: Transverse colostomy is commonly performed to create temporary stoma in rectal cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Conventional methods are either difficult to implement or to care for. To resolve these problems, we herein describe a modified transverse colostomy method. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two sutures of peritoneum were made as "bridges" to support the stoma. Absorbable sutures were utilized to reinforce the stoma. Once the stoma was created, the stoma bag was immediately placed on the skin. 120 patients who received conventional or modified transverse colostomy between 2008 and 2014 were selected. Then, the two groups of patients were compared for stoma-related complications. RESULTS: The operation time of stoma construction was 34±10 minutes for the conventional method and 28±7 minutes for the modified method (P= 0.009). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to postoperative bleeding, bowel obstruction or stoma retraction. Patients with conventional transverse colostomy were remarkably more likely to experience parastoma hernia (P= 0.048) and stoma prolapse (P= 0.038). CONCLUSION: In comparison with conventional methods, the modified transverse colostomy is a safe and effective diverting technique. It can be readily performed by all kinds of surgeons, especially those in underdeveloped areas. The technique represents a preferred method for constructing temporary stoma in rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Value of cross-sectional imaging in assessing active Crohn's disease before stoma reversal.

BACKGROUND: There are currently no guidelines on the need to assess disease activity before stoma reversal in Crohn's disease (CD). We sought to determine the value of cross-sectional imaging for detecting active CD before stoma reversal. METHODS: 38 CD patients underwent cross-sectional imaging before stoma reversal. CD activity was blindly evaluated by an independent radiologist. Postoperative outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Before stoma reversal, cross-sectional imaging identified active CD in 20 of the 38 study participants (52.6%). In 9 out of 10 tested patients, radiologic and endoscopic assessments gave concordant findings with regard to CD recurrence before stoma reversal. Stoma reversal was delayed in half of the patients with active CD and in none of the patients without active CD. Before stoma reversal, tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonists or immunosuppressants were initiated in 45% of the patients with active CD and 5.6% of the patients without active CD. In the year following stoma reversal, the recurrence rate (in a radiologic assessment) was higher in patients with active CD than in patients without active CD (75.0% vs. 30.8%, respectively; p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Cross-sectional imaging revealed postoperative recurrence in about a quarter of patients before stoma reversal; this finding may influence the postoperative treatment strategy and outcomes.

When are defunctioning stomas in rectal cancer surgery really reversed? Results from a population-based single center experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study assessed the timing of reversal of defunctioning stoma following low anterior resection of the rectum for cancer and risk factors for a defunctioning stoma becoming permanent in patients who were not reversed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients who underwent low anterior resection with defunctioning stoma during a 12-year period were assessed with regard to timing of stoma reversal. Delayed reversal was defined as >4 months after low anterior resection. Patients with a defunctioning stoma that was never reversed were assessed regarding risk factors for permanent stoma. RESULTS: A total of 134 patients were analyzed. Of 106 stoma reversals, 19% were reversed within 4 months of low anterior resection, while 81% were reversed later than 4 months. In 58% of these patients, the delay was to due to low medical priority given to this procedure. The other main reasons for delayed stoma reversal were nonsurgical complications (20%), symptomatic anastomotic leakage following low anterior resection (12%), and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (10%). Of all patients, 21% (28/134) ended up with a permanent stoma. Risk factors for a defunctioning stoma becoming permanent were stage IV cancer (P < 0.001) and symptomatic anastomotic leakage following low anterior resection (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Four in five patients experienced a delayed stoma reversal, in a majority because of the low priority given to this surgical procedure.