Protective ileostomy does not prevent anastomotic leakage after anterior resection of rectal cancer

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether protective ileostomy is beneficial in preventing anastomotic leakage after anterior resection of rectal cancer. METHODS: A total of 347 patients underwent anterior resection of rectal cancer in our hospital. Ninety-five patients were treated with protective ileostomy (treatment group), and 252 patients were not (control group). The incidences of anastomotic leakage and permanent stoma were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The overall incidences of anastomotic leakage were 6.32% (6/95) and 8.73% (22/252) in the treatment group and control group, respectively. In the cohort of patients who underwent neoadjuvant radiotherapy, the incidence of anastomotic leakage was 5.88% (2/34) and 12.0% (3/25) in the treatment group and control group, respectively. Logistic regression showed that the incidence of anastomotic leakage was not statistically significant. However, diabetes and the anastomotic height significantly affected the occurrence of anastomotic leakage. The permanent stoma rate was 6.42% (6/95) and 5.95% (15/252) in the treatment group and control group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Protective ileostomy did not show a significant advantage in reducing the incidence of postoperative anastomotic leakage in patients with rectal cancer, and it may lead to a permanent stoma.