Ghost Ileostomy Versus Conventional Loop Ileostomy in Patients Undergoing Low Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancer

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/ejsur.2025.355372.1368

Abstract

Background: Ghost ileostomy, which may be opened with a quick surgery in the event that there are any indications of
anastomotic leak. Several cases won’t receive a "real" stoma as a result of this approach, but in cases who are experiencing anastomotic leakage, early conversion of the ghost ileostomy into a loop ileostomy is thought to be able to reduce the anastomotic leakage clinical effects to a level equivalent to that of a standard protective ileostomy.
Patients and methods: Randomized controlled study at the colorectal surgery unit at Ain Shams University Hospitals
from November 2022 till November 2024 Simple Random Sampling of 20 cases for each group underwent elective Low
Anterior Resection.
Results: Leakage occurred in 10% of cases in both groups without significant distinction between them. All cases in
Group A (control group) 'conventional loop ileostomy' required another operation (Closure of ileostomy), whereas Group
B 'ghost ileostomy' only included two cases, resulting in a highly significant distinction (p-value less than 0.001). With
a very significant (p-value less than 0.001), the median hospital stay for cases in Group B was substantially longer at
8 days (IQR: 79-) than for those in Group A, which was 5 days (IQR: 56-). Group A saw a significantly greater rate of
readmission to the emergency room (15%) than Group B (0%).
Conclusion: With no discernible distinction in postoperative morbidity or mortality, ghost ileostomy is a suitable
alternative to conventional loop ileostomy for individuals receiving elective low anterior resection.

Keywords

The Egyptian Journal of Surgery
Volume 44, Issue 3
July 2025
Pages 1009-1015

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