Loop ileostomy: a reliable method of diversion

Between September 1983 and March 1989, 36 loop ileostomies were performed on 34 patients (16 male and 18 female, mean age 36 years, range 11 to 68). Thirty-two patients had ileoanal pouch procedures (30 for ulcerative colitis and two for familial polyposis). One patient had a low anterior resection and another had a coloanal procedure. By the time of this review, 31 of the loop ileostomies were closed. The average time before closure was 5 months and the average length of follow-up was 37 months. All stomas were brought out through the rectus muscle in the right side of the abdomen, without ileal rotation, mesenteric fixation, or parastomal fascial sutures. A support rod was left in place for 3 to 4 weeks postoperatively. There were no major difficulties with skin irritation or appliance management and no instance of parastomal abscess and stoma retraction. Although no complications related to the ostomy or its closure were encountered in these patients, small bowel obstruction before closure (8 patients) or after takedown (5 patients) of the loop ileostomy required operative correction in one patient in each group.