title: The nutritional impact of diverting stoma-related complications in elderly rectal cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diverting stomas following rectal cancer surgery can affect patients' quality of life, and their complications may negatively affect patients' long-term outcomes and quality of life. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between diverting stoma-related complications and nutritional status.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective study of 114 patients aged 65 years and older who underwent diverting loop ileostomy following rectal cancer surgery between June 2004 and March 2011, we analyzed retrospectively diverting stoma-related complications and nutrition status for the following time periods: before stoma construction, before stoma closure, and after stoma closure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complications related to the diverting stoma developed in 24 (21.1%) patients and complications related to stoma closure in 11 (9.6%) patients. Nutritional screening performed prior to stoma closure showed that patients who experienced stoma formation-related complications had lower albumin levels (P = 0.016) and lower total lymphocytes (P = <0.0001). Body weight loss was more severe in patients with stoma-related complication (P = 0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diverting stoma-related complications may affect patient's nutritional status. Stoma closure operation and proper nutritional support may be important for avoiding complications and improving patients' long-term outcomes and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St. Vincent Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, 93-6, Ji-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 442-723, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bong-Hyeon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kye
authors.forename: Hyung-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jun-Gi
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyeon-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D054047:Surgical Stomas / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors