Rectal anastomosis and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: Should we avoid diverting loop ileostomy?

Introduction: Literature on rectal anastomosis and diverting ileostomy in patients treated with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is limited. This study assesses the safety of rectal anastomoses during cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and HIPEC, with and without fecal diversion, and its morbidity when performed.

Materials And Methods: From January 2012 to January 2020, patients with peritoneal metastases who underwent CRS and HIPEC that required a rectal anastomosis were included in this single-hospital retrospective chart review.

Results: 84 patients were included, of which 29 had a diverting loop ileostomy. The rectal anastomotic leak (AL) rate for the series was 8.3%. Factors associated with AL were male gender (p = 0.031) and increased BMI (p < 0.0005). Diverting loop ileostomy was associated with a significant decrease of clinically significant rectal AL (0% vs 12.7%, p = 0.045). However, the 90-day readmission rate was higher in this group (37.9% vs 10.9%, p = 0.003). Stoma reversal surgery was performed for all patients, but 3 patients experienced AL (10.7%).

Conclusions: This study suggests that creation of a diverting loop ileostomy may be an effective strategy to prevent symptomatic rectal AL following CRS with HIPEC. However, it is also associated with an increased readmission rate and increased risk of AL following reversal surgery.