Application of a spontaneously closed protective stoma in an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: a preliminary study

To evaluate the application value of a spontaneously closed protective stoma (SCPS) in an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, which is a novel procedure first performed in our hospital in 2008.

Two males cases with ulcerative colitis and one female with familial adenomatous polyposis were treated with colorectal surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University since March 2010. The surgery was designed as total proctocolectomy with an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and SCPS. The surgical plan and procedure was determined with the patients after analyzing their hospitalized records and follow-up information.

No operation-induced death or anastomotic leakage occurred. One patient had a persistent fever and another patient presented with postoperative urinary retention. The average time until flatulence occurred post-SCPS was 26 days, and the average time until the removal of the postoperative stomal tube was 46 days that healed well.

An SCPS can effectively protect the anastomosis with a simple operation and avoid the second surgery. Patients with ulcerative colitis require a two-stage operation, those who were in poor health and had a long history of hormone treatment even requiring a three-stage operation. However, a one- or two-stage operation could help alleviate pain for patients who require multiple surgeries and reduce economic burden.