Safety of temporary ileostomy via specimen extraction site in rectal cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection

If anastomotic site leakage is expected after laparoscopic low anterior resection (LAR), de-functioning ileostomy is required. However, there is controversy about the consequence of stoma formation via the specimen extraction site (SES). Therefore, we aimed to investigate stoma-related complication according to stoma formation via the SES. We enrolled rectal cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic LAR with temporary ileostomy between January 2013 and December 2017. Patients were divided into two groups: stoma through the SES (SES) and stoma through a new site (NS). The difference in the incidence of stoma-related complications was analysed. In total, 198 patients underwent laparoscopic LAR (SES = 141 patients, NS = 57 patients). The SES group had a shorter operation time (204.7 ± 74.4 min vs 229.5 ± 90.5 min, p = 0.049) and was associated with fewer cases of wound infection (0% vs 7%, p = 0.006) than the NS group. There was no statistically significant difference between the SES group and NS group in all-stoma complications (22.7% vs 12.3%, p = 0.095). The incidence of parastomal hernia also was not significantly different (11.3% vs 5.3%, p = 0.286). Stoma via the SES is feasible after laparoscopic LAR with temporary ileostomy, although stoma-related complication rate was higher, without a significant difference. It can shorten the operation time and reduce wound infection rate.