Diverting Stomas: Comparing Loop Ileostomy with Loop Transverse Colostomy

Yasuo Kabeshima, Masahiko Watanabe, Hirotoshi Hasegawa, Seiichiro Yamamoto, Takashi Endo, Takeyoshi Yamauchi, Kyoko Yorozuya, Yumikko Sauchi^* and Masaki Kitajima

Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Department of Nursing, Keio University Hospital^*

Introduction: Transverse loop colostomy is conventionally used to defunction the distal colon and rectum following certain surgical procedures. Loop ileostomy has recently become more widespread among colorectal surgeons. We compared these 2 procedures when used to defunction the distal colon and rectum. Methods: Subject were 43 patients undergoing closure of a diverting stoma between 1995 and 2000. They were divided into an ileostomy group (n=25; IS group) and a transverse colostomy group (n=18; CS group). Median follow-up was 41 months. Results: Age, gender and indication for surgery were similar in both groups. Between stoma construction and closure, no significant differences were observed except in the method of anastomosis. After stoma closure, significant differences were observed in the incidence of bowel obstruction (IS: 4.0%, CS: 33.3%; P=0.031) and length of postoperative hospital stay (IS: 7.6±2.5days, CS: 10.6±5.0days; P=0.017). No difference was seen in other complications. Conclusion: These results indicate that the loop ileostomy may be the procedure of choice when a diverting stoma is needed to defunction the distal colon and rectum.

Key words
loop ileostomy, transverse colostomy, diverting stoma

Reprint requests
Masahiko Watanabe Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582 JAPAN

Accepted
April 25, 2001

To read the PDF file you will need Abobe Reader installed on your computer.