Post-surgical morbidity in early versus late closure of defunctioning ileostomy after rectal cancer surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A defunctioning ileostomy is frequently created to avert the implications of a colo-rectal anastomotic dehiscence in rectal cancer surgery. The timing of closure of the ileostomy remains debatable as it is believed that early closure (EC) may be beneficial to most patients than the standard practice of late closure (LC). This meta-analysis was performed to compare surgical outcomes in patients who underwent EC versus LC.

Methods

Randomised controlled trials (RCT) which evaluated the effect of EC versus LC of ileostomy on surgical outcomes in rectal cancer patients was searched on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library. RCTs evaluating EC vs. LC of defunctioning ileostomies for rectal cancer patients were included. The primary outcome measures include

SUBMITTER: Chan DKH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12211236 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature