Published online Jan 7, 2018. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v24.i1.104
Peer-review started: November 2, 2017
First decision: November 14, 2017
Revised: November 22, 2017
Accepted: November 27, 2017
Article in press: November 27, 2017
Published online: January 7, 2018
Processing time: 66 Days and 20.1 Hours
To retrospectively evaluate the safety and feasibility of surgical specimen extraction via a prophylactic ileostomy procedure in patient with rectal cancer.
We systematically reviewed 331 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic anterior resection for rectal cancer and prophylactic ileostomy in our institution from June 2010 to October 2016, including 155 patients who underwent specimen extraction via a prophylactic ileostomy procedure (experimental group), and 176 patients who underwent specimen extraction via a small lower abdominal incision (control group). Clinical data were collected from both groups and statistically analyzed.
The two groups were matched in clinical characteristics and pathological outcomes. However, mean operative time was significantly shorter in the experimental group compared to the control group (161.3 ± 21.5 min vs 168.8 ± 20.5 min; P = 0.001). Mean estimated blood loss was significantly less in the experimental group (77.4 ± 30.7 mL vs 85.9 ± 35.5 mL; P = 0.020). The pain reported by patients during the first two days after surgery was significantly less in the experimental group than in the control group. No wound infections occurred in the experimental group, but 4.0% of the controls developed wound infections (P = 0.016). The estimated 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival rate were similar between the two groups.
Surgical specimen extraction via a prophylactic ileostomy procedure represents a secure and feasible approach to laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery, and embodies the principle of minimally invasive surgery.
Core tip: Prophylactic ileostomy plays an important role in reducing the incidence of anastomotic leakage in rectal cancer patients. In this paper, we introduce an innovative method named surgical specimen extraction via a prophylactic ileostomy procedure and to evaluate its safety and feasibility.