Mid-term Efficacy of Local Repair Using Modified Altemeier Technique for Stomal Prolapse: A Case Series

Stomal prolapse (SP) is characterized by full-thickness protrusion of the bowel through the stoma site. The surgical procedures for SP include local repair, abdominal wall fixation, and stoma relocation. However, previous reports were mostly case reports or case series with a small number of patients and lacked long-term results. A modified Altemeier technique (MAT) has been used for the local repair of SP in our institution, and this study aimed to evaluate its mid-term efficacy.

We reviewed patients who underwent MAT for SP between August 2013 and December 2020. The variables included patient characteristics, type of stoma, indications of stoma creation, the time interval from stoma creation to prolapse, site of prolapse, reasons for SP surgery, perioperative variables, complications during SP surgery, and length of follow-up. Recurrence of SP was defined as the need for change in stoma care or re-protrusion of the stoma by more than 5 cm in length.

Ten patients were included in this study. The median age at the time of SP surgery was 71.5 years. The indications of stoma creation included unresectable or recurrent intra-abdominal malignancies in four patients, diverting ileostomy with rectal cancer surgery in two, transverse colon cancer in one, gastric and rectal cancer in one, rectovaginal fistula in one, and non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia in one. The median interval from stoma creation to prolapse was 2.5 months. Six patients underwent elective SP surgery, and four patients underwent emergency surgery for incarcerated prolapse. The median operative time was 75.5 min. Postoperative complications that included transient mucosal ischemia and subcutaneous abscess occurred in one patient. There were four recurrences (40%), and the median time interval from surgery to recurrence was 4.5 months. Two patients underwent repeated MAT, one of whom underwent stomal reversal with laparotomy for re-recurrence. The median follow-up duration was 19 months.

MAT for SP is associated with a high recurrence rate in mid-term follow-up.