Defunctioning stomas (ileostomy and transversostomy) are the most common methods of the decompression of distal digestive tract. The aim of this study was to assess the results of transverse loop colostomy in colorectal cancer patients.
Material and method: Between 1998 and 2007, 119 patients with colorectal cancer underwent transversostomy. In 97 patients the colostomy was formed during the primary operation as a planned prevention from further complications (1st group) and in 22 previously operated patients due to postoperative complications as a second procedure (2nd group).
Results: In the study group, there were 2 deaths in the perioperative period due to the anastomosis leakage and the intraabdominal sepsis. Three patients required reconstructive operation because of the colostomy stenosis and further 3 due to colostomy prolapse. There were also several cases of superficial wound infection after termination of transversostomy. Almost 78 patients in total had the restoration of digestive tract continuity performed, prevalently from the 1st group.
Conclusions: 1. In our opinion transversostomy is an effective solution for the proximal faecal diversion especially at high risk of anastomosis insufficiency or with present anastomosis leak. 2. In our study group, the incidence of complications (such as: chyme loss or dyselectrolytemia) in patients with performed transversostomy was low, thus we find it recommendable for the colon decompression.