OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the complications of the temporary loop ileostomy. METHOD: A retrospective study of 222 consecutive patients with low anterior resection, ileal pouch-anal anastomosis or continent ileostomy and a diverting loop ileostomy routinely fashioned during the primary operation. The loop ileostomy was closed in 213 patients (96%) during the minimum follow-up period of 15 months. RESULTS: Four patients (2%) required preterm closure of the ostomy due to stomal retraction (n = 3) or bowel obstruction (n = 1). Four patients were readmitted due to transient bowel obstruction that resolved without surgery. After closure of the loop ileostomy a total of 27 patients (13%) had complications. In 7 patients emergency re-operation was done due to small bowel obstruction (n = 5) or intra-abdominal abscess (n = 2). Elective re-operation was done in 5 patients for hernia at the site of the previous stoma. Despite the use of a loop ileostomy there was 1 postoperative death after the initial operation in consequence of anastomotic leakage. There was 1 death in consequence of closure of the loop ileostomy after 3 weeks due to intra-abdominal sepsis and heart failure. CONCLUSION: In this series closure of the ostomy wasassociated with one death (0.5%) and overall ostomy-related morbidity included the need to re-operate in 6%.

Diabetes and peptic ulcer history seem to be risk factors for MU, but not hyperlipidemia, hypertension, or COPD. Limited doses of aspirin, NSAIDs, and SSRIs might not increase the risk, although higher doses of aspirin do. The association with PPI could be due to confounding by indication.