Predictors of dehydration and acute renal failure in patients with diverting loop ileostomy creation after colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND: Despite the potential benefits of fecal diversion after low pelvic anastomosis in colorectal surgery, diverting loop ileostomy construction is related to significant rates of complications. AIM: To determine potential predictors of high output related complications in patients with diverting loop ileostomy creation after colorectal surgery. METHODS: Patients who underwent open and laparoscopic colorectal surgery requiring a diverting loop ileostomy from January 2010 to March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. We included patients older than 18 years, who underwent colorectal surgery with primary low pelvic anastomosis, and with the creation of a diverting loop ileostomy, at elective or emergency settings for the treatment of benign or malignant conditions. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the effect of the potential predictors on the rate of high output related complications. The high output related complications were dehydration and acute renal failure that required visits to the emergency department and hospitalizations. RESULTS: Of the 102 patients included in the study, 23.5% (n = 24) suffered high output related complications. In this group of patients at least one visit to the emergency department (mean 1.6), and at least one readmission to the hospital was needed. The factors associated with high-output ileostomy, in the univariate analysis, were: urgent surgical intervention (OR = 2.6; P = 0.047), the development of postoperative complications (OR = 3; P = 0.024), have ulcerative colitis (OR = 4.8; P = 0.017), use of steroids (OR = 4.3; P = 0.010), mean output at discharge greater than 1000 mL/24 h (OR = 3.2; P = 0.016), and use of loperamide at discharge (OR = 2.8; P = 0.032). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified two independent risk factors for high output related complications: ulcerative colitis [OR = 7.6 (95%CI: 1.81-31.95); P = 0.006], and ileostomy output at discharge ≥ 1000 mL/24 h [OR = 3.3 (1.18-9.37); P = 0.023]. CONCLUSION: In our study, patients with ulcerative colitis and those with an ileostomy output above 1000 mL/24 h at discharge, were at increased risk of high output related complications.