Readmission indicated by severe fluid-electrolyte disturbances as a complication of ileostomy

Introduction: After the operations of rectal tumours following neoadjuvant chemo-radio therapy it is a common practice to create a defunctioning ileostomy in order to prevent complications due to anastomotic leak. The ileostomy itself can be the source of complications with 20–60% incidence rate, while dehydration causes 16.9–40% of readmissions. Aims: Our goal was to review our own cases on the basis of complications of ileostomy particularly with regard to dehydration and its consequences. We wanted to develop a therapeutic protocol to help prevent these severe complications. Results: We retrospectively analyzed the morbidity data of our patients who had defunctioning ileostomy for different indications between 01.09.2017–31.12.2019. During this period, 252 rectosigmoid resections and 33 abdominoperineal resections of the rectum were performed. Ileostomy was created for 110 patients. 27 patients (24.5%) were readmitted with severe renal impairment and electrolyte disturbances. 24 patients were readmitted once, 1 patient twice and 2 patients 3 times. Readmission happened an average of 49.6 days (1–343) after the operation. At admission and readmission the average of GFR (glomerular filtration rate) of patients was 54.66 (38–60) ml/min/1.73 m2 – 22.8 (5–51) ml/min/1.73 m2 (p = 0.001), the average of serum Na level was 140.7 (133–145) mmol/l – 131.4 (111–144) mmol/l (p = 0.001), the average of serum K level was 4.6 (3.2–5.6) mmol/l – 5.37 (3.6–7.6) mmol/l (p = 0.005) and the average of serum creatinine level was 89.6 (54–149) µmol/l – 33.3 (107–877) µmol/l (p = 0.001). Conclusion: With regard to the short and long term severe complications of dehydration and the high risk of readmission caused by ileostomy, it is important to estimate the risk of patients, to educate the inpatients as early as possible, to commence the prevention of dehydration, and regularly monitor in the outpatient setting. Provided the conditions are given, the early closure of ileostomy should be considered.