title: Defunctioning ileostomy closure following low anterior resection by chemotherapy.
abstract: 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.
authors: 4th Surgical Department, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Vrakas
authors: M G
authors: MG
authors: Pramateftakis
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Kanellos
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Sapidis
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Hatzigianni
authors: Th
authors: T
authors: Tsachalis
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Kanellos
authors: Ch
authors: Ch
authors: Lazaridis
mesh_terms: 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