Long-term results of sigmoidostomy in patients with anorectal malignancy

The long-term results with permanent end-sigmoidostomy were studied in 54 patients after abdominoperineal excision of the rectum for anorectal malignancy. The patients were re-examined 1-8 years postoperatively, when the function and late complications of the end-sigmoidostomy and the need for reconstructive procedures were assessed. An attempt was also made to evaluate the patients' quality of life. Only one patient reported severe impairment of social life due to the enterostomy. The main surgical problem was paracolostomy hernia (48% of the series), but revisonal surgery because of hernia was necessary in only two cases. Stomal stenosis (5.6%) in no case required reoperation. Peristomal eczema (5%) was always manageable with local treatment. The results indicated that the quality of life with end-sigmoidostomy is reasonably good, and this should be kept in mind when deciding on type of operation for low rectal malignancy.