Protective role of defunctioning stoma in sphincter-preserving operation for low rectal cancer:a retrospective clinical analysis of 153 cases

Objective To investigate whether a defunctioning stoma could reduce anastomotic leakage in patients who received sphincter-preserving operation for low rectal cancer.Methods From September 2009 to January 2011,the clinical data of 153 patients who had received sphincter-preserving operation for low rectal cancer were analyzed.Among them,32 patients received dysfunction stoma(stoma group) and 121 patients received no stoma(non-stoma group).Results Eight patients suffered from symptomatic anastomotic leakage 5.2%.1 in the stoma group(3.1%) and 7 in the non-stoma group(5.8%).There was no statistical difference between the two groups.Three patients underwent reoperation in the non-stoma group,whereas no patient was re-operated on in the stoma group.Conclusions A dysfunction stoma could not reduce the incidence of symptomatic anastomotic leakage,but improves clinical manifestations after leakage and reduces the rate of reoperation.