Effects of enterostomy in treating locally advanced rectal cancer with combined chemoradiotherapy and operation

Abstract

To investigate the effect of enterostomy in treatment of locally advanced rectal carcinoma patients with combined chemoradiotherapy and operation. Clinical data from 51 cases of locally advanced rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy and operation were analyzed. Thirty-three patients (64.9%) got staging down of their cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy, and 21.6% of patients (11 cases) had complete pathologic response. Thirty-seven patients received enterostomy, including extraperitoneal sigmoidostomy (29 cases), defunctioning ileostomy (8 cases) and double colostomy (3 cases with colon obstruction during preoperative therapy). One case experienced parastomal hernia and one stomal stenosis and 2 cases parastomal infection after enterostomy. No death of enterostomy occurred. Colostomy can reduce the pressure of obstructed intestinal tract and contribute much to the preoperative chemoradiotherapy, ileostomy can protect the distal stoma from leakage in sphincter saving operation. Enterostomy could be selected when needed in the favor of locally advanced rectal cancer patients.