[Gunsight closure versus purse-string closure techniques in loop stoma reversal: a multicenter prospective randomized...

Objective: To compare the wound healing time, Surgical site infection (SSI) rate and other postoperative outcomes between the gunsight closure and purse-string closure technique in loop stoma closure. Methods: Between November 2013 and December 2017, a total of 143 patients who underwent gunsight stoma reversal were included in this multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial. The patients were randomized to undergo gunsight (gunsight group, n=72) or purse-string closure technique (purse-string group, n=71). The primary endpoint was wound healing time. The second endpoints were the incidence of SSI, morbidity, and patient satisfaction. Statistical analysis between groups was performed using the t-test, repeated measures analysis of variance, Mann-Whitney U test, χ(2) test or Fisher's exact test. Results: There were 45 males and 27 females with age of 67 (11) (M(Q(R))) years in gunsight group, 42 males and 29 females with age of 65 (20) years in purse-string group. The body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologist classification, comorbidities, primary diagnosis, the type of ostomy, intraoperative blood loss, perioperative complications, postoperative hospital stay, hospitalization cost, SSI rate and incisional hernia (stoma site) between the 2 groups were not significantly different (P>0.05). Although had a statistically longer operating time (80(10) minutes vs. 70(10) minutes, Z=-2.381, P=0.017), patients who underwent gunsight procedure and a significantly shorter wound healing time (17(2) days vs. 25(4) days, Z=-10.199, P<0.01), higher patient satisfaction score with regards to wound healing time (3(1) vs. 3(1), Z=-4.526, P<0.01), and higher total patient satisfaction score (25(3) vs. 25(3), Z=-2.529, P=0.011) compared with those who underwent purse-string procedure. Conclusions: The gunsight and purse-string techniques are effective procedures for stoma reversal and both have low SSI rate. The gunsight technique is associated with shorter wound healing time, higher levels of patient satisfaction compared with purse-string technique, and is recommended as the closure technique of choice.