Anastomotic leakage is encountered frequently after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery, which is considered one of the potentially lethal complications, affecting the quality of life and increasing hospital costs. The role of a protective stoma has been debated. Therefore, The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of protective ileostomy on the outcomes of patients with rectal cancer who underwent low anterior rectal (LAR) resection.
This is a prospective comparative study of a group of patients with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer of both sexes and all ages that required low anterior resection(LAR) attending the Department of General Surgery at Tishreen University Hospital in Lattakia-Syria during the two years (May 2021- May 2023). The exclusion criteria were patients who underwent abdominoperineal resection with permanent ileostomy. The following workup included: a history and physical examination.
Preparation of the bowel was performed before surgery with the administration of intravenous perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. The surgical procedure was performed by laparotomy, with resection of the rectum and mesorectum (TME) up to the level of the pelvic diaphragm, sparing the autonomic nerves. End-to-end anastomosis was performed either with a stapler or by hand-sewn. Patients were assigned to group I (19 patients) who had undergone temporary ileostomy, and group II (28 patients) who didn't undergo ileostomy. Patients were followed up at regular intervals and outcomes were compared between two groups.
