Simon Lundström

Background and objective: Defunctioning loop ileostomy (DLI) is frequently used to decrease the consequences of anastomotic leak after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) surgery but is controversial because of stoma-associated morbidity. The aim of this study was to describe stoma-associated morbidity in IPAA–DLI patients compared with terminal ileostomy patients. Methods: Patients treated with colectomy for inflammatory bowel disease at Skåne University Hospital, Sweden, between 2005 and 2021 were eligible for inclusion. Terminal stoma-related morbidity was measured until 12 months after colectomy, IPAA surgery, or conversion to ileorectal anastomosis, whichever occurred first. DLI-related morbidity was measured until 12 months after IPAA surgery or stoma closure, whichever occurred first. Laboratory data were reviewed up to 18 months after surgery since patients without complications were rarely subjected to blood sampling. Data on patient characteristics, renal function, surgical complications, and readmissions were collected retrospectively. Primary outcomes were DLI- and terminal ileostomy-related renal morbidity, whereas secondary outcomes focused on stoma-related complications. Results: The study cohort consisted of 165 patients with terminal ileostomy after colectomy (median (interquartile range (IQR)): stoma time 30 (15–74) months) and 42 patients with IPAA–DLI (median (IQR): stoma time 4 (3–5) months). One case of anastomotic IPAA leakage was observed. IPAA–DLI patients more often required hospital care due to high-volume stoma output immediately after surgery (0–30 days, 29%) compared with terminal ileostomy patients (4%, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in acute renal injury ( p = 0.073) or chronic renal failure ( p = 0.936) incidences between the groups. DLI closure was achieved in 95% of IPAA–DLI patients, with 5% suffering Clavien–Dindo complications > 2. Conclusions: IPAA–DLI patients exhibited higher incidence of short-term high-volume stoma output without higher rates of acute renal injury or chronic renal failure compared with terminal ileostomy patients in this small single-center retrospective study suggesting that the risk of renal morbidity in IPAA–DLI patients may have been overestimated.