Defunctioning ileostomy closure following low anterior resection by chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to review the time between formation and closure of loop ileostomies following total mesorectal excision in patients with rectal cancer.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 170 patients who underwent low anterior resection for rectal cancer, between 1990 and 2009. Loop ileostomies were created in 8 patients.


RESULTS
Of the 8 patients with defunctioning loop ileostomies, 4 received adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy, 3 received neo-adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy and 1 did not receive anything. There was 12.5% morbidity. The time from formation to closure for the patient with no adjuvant therapy was 3 months and for those with adjuvant therapy was 7 months. This was a significant delay.


CONCLUSIONS
Time between formation and closure of loop ileostomy following anterior resection of rectum is significantly delayed by adjuvant chemotherapy.
Vrakas
G
G
4th Surgical Department, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Pramateftakis
M G
MG
Kanellos
D
D
Sapidis
S
S
Hatzigianni
P
P
Tsachalis
Th
T
Kanellos
I
I
Lazaridis
Ch
Ch
D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003082:Colectomy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy / Q000379:methods*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors