A novel technique for the construction of an end ileostomy to prevent stoma outlet obstruction after rectal resection and total colectomy: a single-center retrospective study

Stoma outlet obstruction (SOO) is an early postoperative complication of rectal cancer. We devised a novel surgical technique: end-ileostomy, to reduce SOO. Here, we describe the surgical technique used for constructing an end ileostomy and assess its impact on SOO.

The subjects of this retrospective study were 78 patients who underwent low anterior resection or total colectomy with a defunctioning ileostomy (DI) between 2018 and 2022. The surgical procedure for end ileostomy can be summarized as follows: First, the ileum was separated using a linear stapler, approximately 30 cm from the Bauhin valve; then the opposite sides of the mesentery of the oral and anal ilea were sutured; and finally, end ileostomy was performed using standard techniques. End and loop ileostomies were performed in 34 and 44 patients, respectively. We assessed the independent risk factors for SOO.

SOO occurred in 12 patients (15.3%): 1 (2.9%) with an end ileostomy and 11 (25%) with a loop ileostomy. Multivariate analysis identified loop ileostomy as an independent risk factor for SOO (p = 0.037).

End ileostomy construction is a useful and safe technique for reducing the incidence of SOO in defunctioning ileostomies following rectal resection.