Influence of the rotation of the diverting loop ileostomy in rectal cancer surgery on small-bowel obstruction: A multicenter prospective study conducted by the Clinical Study Group of Osaka University, Colorectal Group

Aims: Whether rotation of a diverting loop ileostomy during rectal cancer surgery, for reducing the catastrophic effect of an anastomotic leakage, affects the incidence of small-bowel obstruction has not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study is to explore whether technical maneuvers in diverting loop ileostomy creation, including its rotation, are associated with increased incidence of small-bowel obstruction in rectal tumor surgery.

Methods: This multicenter prospective study was conducted by the Clinical Study Group of Osaka University, which comprises 24 major institutions. Patients with rectal adenocarcinoma scheduled for laparoscopic/robotic low anterior resection or intersphincteric resection with a diverting loop ileostomy were included. A total of 451 patients were prospectively enrolled between July 2015 and April 2021. The primary endpoint was the relevance of loop ileostomy rotation to the incidence of small-bowel obstruction; the secondary endpoints included the origin of the small-bowel obstruction and length of hospital stay.

Results: Small-bowel obstruction was observed in 10.8% in the nonrotated group and 12.3% in the rotated group, with no significant difference (P > .99). The only risk factor identified for small-bowel obstruction was distance from the ileocecal valve, with a significant difference in 16 patients (7.3%) with a distance of ≤30 cm and 16 patients (15.4%) in a distance of >30 cm (P = .028).

Conclusion: Rotation of the diverting loop ileostomy had no significant effect on the incidence of small-bowel obstruction.