Clinical effects of prophylactic transverse colostomy in patients undergoing completely laparoscopic transabdominal approach partial intersphincteric resection

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effects of prophylactic transverse colostomy on gastrointestinal function recovery and complications in patients undergoing completely laparoscopic transabdominal approach partial intersphincteric resection (CLAPISR) of low rectal cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 74 patients with low rectal cancer who were treated with prophylactic transverse colostomy (Group A, n = 34) or without prophylactic transverse colostomy (Group B, n = 40). Surgery-related indicators, nutritional status indicators, systemic stress response indicators, and complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: On postoperative day 5, the C-reactive protein concentration and white blood cell count were not significantly different between the two groups; however, the serum concentrations of total protein and albumin were higher in Group A than in Group B. Within 26 months postoperatively, the total incidence rate of complications was not significantly different, but the incidence rate of anastomotic leakage was lower in Group A than in Group B. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic transverse colostomy based on CLAPISR can lead to faster recovery of gastrointestinal function, better improvement of postoperative nutritional indicators, and a lower incidence of anastomotic leakage. These characteristics are conducive to the rapid recovery of patients, making this procedure worthy of clinical application.