Complications of loop ileostomy.

We consider a proximal loop ileostomy to be an integral part of a pelvic pouch procedure with ileoanal anastomosis. In the absence of controlled studies and considering the reported poor results with high rates of pelvic sepsis when this operation is performed without a proximal defunctionalizing ileostomy, we will continue to routinely use proximal ileostomy in all patients undergoing this procedure. There is a high rate of complications related to loop ileostomy; however, they are not life threatening and do not preclude an excellent long-term result. Dehydration requiring readmission to the hospital occurred in 20 percent of the patients in this series. More sensitive clinical data, such as measurement of urinary electrolyte levels, should be used to identify patients at high risk for this complication. Septic complications were rare after closure of the loop ileostomy, but bowel obstruction was common. Bowel obstruction rarely required operative intervention, but it is possible that changing the method of closure may decrease the rate of obstruction. The use of loop ileostomy to bypass temporarily part of the terminal ileum may have significant metabolic effects that require further study.