title: Influence of temporary faecal diversion on long-term survival after curative surgery for colorectal cancer.
abstract: Experimental carcinogenesis is enhanced at colorectal anastomoses, inhibited by proximal faecal diversion and promoted by the closure of a defunctioning stoma. The clinical relevance of these observations was investigated in a retrospective study of curative restorative resection for colorectal carcinoma. The 5-year disease-free survival rate (95 per cent confidence interval) in 122 patients with a temporary stoma (50.4 (41.1-59.7) per cent) was significantly reduced (P < 0.01) compared with that in 218 with no stoma (66.8 (59.4-73.5) per cent). In patients with Dukes B tumours early stoma closure (within 3 months of resection) was associated with a worse survival (P < 0.005) and a higher tumour recurrence rate (P < 0.05) than in those with no stoma. Survival rates after late stoma closure were no different from those in patients with no stoma. Multivariate analysis revealed Dukes stage (P < 0.0001), tumour differentiation (P = 0.02) and timing of stoma closure (P = 0.02) as independent predictors of survival. In curative surgery for colorectal cancer temporary faecal diversion confers a survival disadvantage that can be prevented by delayed closure of the stoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University College London Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meleagros
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Varty
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delrio
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Boulos
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D003125:Colostomy / Q000401:mortality; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate