title: A study comparing split with loop transverse colostomies for defunctioning the left colon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Loop transverse colostomy (LTC) is an established method for defunctioning the distal colon. We recently described an alternative method called split transverse colostomy (STC).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study we retrospectively compared the outcomes of LTC and STC in 49 patients with colorectal malignancy, pelvic tumours and diverticular disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were assigned without randomisation to undergo LTC (n=25) or STC (n=24). The two groups were similar in terms of age, gender and diagnosis. Postoperative complications were observed in 52.0% of patients in LTC group and in 16.7% of patients in STC group (p<0.05). The most common complication in both groups was stomal prolapse (n=2 and n=10, respectively). There were no intra-operative deaths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  STC is safe, effective and associated with a lower incidence of stomal complications compared with the established procedure for defunctioning the distal colon. We propose that STC should be used to defunction the left colon in locally advanced disease (whether benign or malignant) where closure of the stoma is not envisaged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Watford General Hospital, Vicarage Road, Watford Hertfordshire, WG1, UK. mrariaz@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Riaz
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jeetle
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Whittingham-Jones
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bobb
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003125:Colostomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome