Incisional hernia following closure of loop ileostomy: The main predictor is the patient, not the surgeon

Incisional hernia at the ileostomy site occurs in 0-48% of patients undergoing loop ileostomy closure. Risk factors for ileostomy-site hernia are not currently well understood. We explored the predictive value of patient and clinical factors for ileostomy-site hernias.

Loop ileostomy reversals undertaken between 1st January 2009 and 31st December 2013 were retrospectively evaluated. Preoperative patient data (BMI, age, gender, blood pressure, diabetes), surgical variables (preoperative ileostomy marking, intraoperative management (suture type, closure method), postoperative complications (≤30 days), approach, urgency, and chemotherapy, hospital stay, stoma closure interval, follow-up duration) were collected. Patients were followed up by clinical examination and postoperative imaging.

193 loop ileostomy reversals were identified. Operative indications included: colorectal cancer (n = 102, 52.8%); inflammatory bowel disease (n = 47, 24.3%); diverticulosis (n = 20, 10.4%); assorted indications (n = 19, 9.8%); and inflammatory fistulae (n = 5, 2.6%). Median duration of clinical follow-up was 20.5 months (0-69). Hernia occurred in 26 patients (13.5%), detected at a median of eight months post-reversal. Radiological follow-up occurred in 72% of patients and, as a reference standard, in 100% of patients diagnosed with a hernia. Concordance between clinical and radiological findings was 88.5%. Postoperative complications predicted higher hernia risk. BMI and preoperative blood pressure were significant hernia predictors. Differences in the type of suture material to close the defect (absorbable vs. non-absorbable) and stoma skin closure method (primary vs. secondary intention healing) were non-predictive of hernia.

Whilst BMI and patient comorbidity are the major hernia predictors, variability in surgical practice does not constitute a significant risk factor for ileostomy-site incisional hernia.