The type of stoma mattersmorbidity in patients with obstructing colorectal cancer

PurposeA loop colostomy may reduce the risk of severe intraabdominal complications in patients with obstructing colorectal cancer compared to an end colostomy. The aim of this study was to relate complications to the type of stoma, and a secondary aim was to evaluate whether the type of colostomy had an impact on time until oncological/surgical treatment.MethodsAll patients who underwent surgery and received a deviating colostomy due to obstructing colorectal cancer between January 2011 and December 2015 in five Swedish hospitals in Region Vastra Gotaland were included (n=289). Patient charts were reviewed retrospectively. Patients alive in the end of 2016 were contacted and were sent a questionnaire including questions about stoma function and health-related quality of life.ResultsSome 289 patients were included; 147 received an end colostomy and 140 a loop colostomy. Two patients were excluded from the analysis due to missing data. There was no difference in complications at 90days between the two groups, 44% (end colostomy) and 54% (loop colostomy) (odds ratio: 0.83 (95% CI: 0.49; 1.41). Time to start of treatment was similar in both groups. Patients with a loop colostomy had significantly higher stoma-related morbidity with retraction, prolapse, leakage and bandaging problems. No differences in quality of life were found.ConclusionThe hypothesis that a loop colostomy reduced complications could not be confirmed. An end colostomy should be the first choice in these patients particularly in patients who will have their colostomy for the remainder of their life to reduce stoma-related symptoms.