Temporary colostomy in supralevator pelvic exenteration. A comparative study between stapled loop and loop colostomy

A temporary loop colostomy is created in most patients undergoing total supralevator pelvic exenteration with low rectal anastomosis. We report 16 patients comparing two different types of loop colostomy. In half of them a normal loop colostomy was made and refashioning of the stoma was necessary in two patients because of faecal spillover in the presence of anastomotic leakage. In the other eight patients a functional terminal colostomy was created by application of a TA 55 stapler on the efferent loop. In this group no refashioning of the stoma was necessary and no difficulties were encountered on closure of this type of colostomy. Because of the high incidence of anastomotic leakage in this population, the stapled loop colostomy is the preferred method of choice because it eliminates any possible faecal spillover.