Closing a temporary ileostomy within two weeks

Temporary ileostomy is frequently constructed to relieve a rectal anastomosis and avoid peritonitis if the anastomosis is leaking. Ostomy is a burden for both the patient and society and early closure is therefore desirable to counteract increased morbidity. Several prospective studies and a single randomized controlled trial have shown that closure in less than two weeks was associated with lower or equal morbidity compared with later closure. Thus, current data support early closure of temporary ileostomy performed to cover rectal anastomosis in routine clinical practice.