Defunctioning stoma is an effective method to reduce symptomatic anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer surgery. It is of concern that about 1 in 5 defunctioning stomas will not be restored, that is, becoming permanent. And that is usually beyond expectation by physicians and patients, which deserves enough attention. The causes are complex, including anastomotic complications, tumor progression, perioperative death, poor anal function and patient willingness. Possible risk factors include symptomatic anastomotic leakage, age, tumor location, neoadjuvant therapy, anal function, TNM stage, ASA score, hospital factors, etc. Those factors may occur in various stages of patient referral such as before neoadjuvant therapy, prior to surgery, intra or post-operative period, and follow-up. Adequate physician-patient communication and shared decision-making, comprehensive tumor and patient function assessment, rational treatment strategy, careful manipulation during operation and good quality control, and meticulous perioperative management are important steps to reduce the permanent stoma. When shared decision-making, patients' needs should be fully considered while unnecessary expectations of anal preservation should be avoided. The risk of perpetuation of defunctioning stoma should be fully informed. Safe operation, especially anastomosis, is the key to avoid permanent stoma. And attention should be paid to the early detection and intervention of postoperative anastomotic stenosis.
预防性造口是减少直肠癌术后症状性吻合口漏的有效方法。约1/5的预防性造口存在无法还纳即预防性造口永久化问题，超出医生和患者的预期，值得引起足够的重视和关注。预防性造口永久化的原因比较复杂，主要包括吻合口相关并发症、原发肿瘤进展、围手术期死亡、肛门功能不良和患者意愿等。导致预防性造口永久化可能的因素包括有症状的吻合口漏、患者年龄、肿瘤位置、新辅助治疗、肛门功能、肿瘤TNM分期、美国麻醉医师协会（ASA）评分以及医院因素等；涉及新辅助治疗前、手术前、手术中、手术后及随访期。充分的医患沟通决策、完善的肿瘤评估及患者功能评估、合理的综合治疗策略、细致的手术操作及质量控制和全程细致的围手术期管理等，是避免预防性造口永久化的重要环节。在治疗决策和患者沟通时，须清楚患者的诉求，避免不必要的保肛预期；对预防性造口永久化要充分告知。安全的手术操作、尤其是吻合，是避免预防性造口永久化的关键环节；术后吻合口狭窄的早期发现及干预，值得重视。.