Risk Factors for Outlet Obstruction in Patients with Diverting Ileostomy Following Rectal Surgery

Objectives Anastomotic leakage is one of the most severe complications of rectal cancer surgery. A diverting ileostomy was constructed for the purpose of reducing anastomotic failure risk. Outlet obstruction (OO) is one of the complications of diverting stoma that results in a lack of fecal discharge from the stoma. Detailed etiologies and preventive measures for outlet obstruction have not yet been identified. Methods We studied 125 patients who underwent rectal resection, anastomosis, and elective ileostomy. We evaluated the incidence of outlet obstruction and looked for any relationship between perioperative factors and outlet obstruction. Results Outlet obstruction was detected in 20 cases (16.0%). Outlet obstruction occurred 9 days after surgery in most cases. Inserting a decompressing tube improved obstructive symptoms in 4 days. Patients were divided into two cohorts according to the occurrence of outlet obstruction. Postoperative hospital stay was longer in the outlet obstruction group (19 vs. 15 days; p = 0.0003). A multivariate analysis identified that younger patients, a postoperative thicker rectus abdominis muscle at the stoma passage and high output syndrome were independent risk factors for outlet obstruction. Conclusions Younger patients, a postoperative thicker rectus abdominis muscle at stoma passage and high output syndrome were independent risk factors for outlet obstruction.