Modified Triangulating Stapling Technique for Closure of a Temporary Loop Stoma

Purpose: To describe a new stapling technique for closure of a temporary loop stoma and report the results of a retrospective investigation of its efficacy.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients underwent a total of 40 loop stoma closure procedures, performed by the same surgeon using the same method, between 2004 and 2009. Thirty-six procedures were performed after rectal surgery, 1 was done for rectal malignant lymphoma, 2 were performed in the same patient after resection of rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and 1 was performed after colonic surgery. The short-term outcomes were evaluated retrospectively. For this technique, after the minimum necessary dissection of both limbs of the bowel from the abdominal wall, the everted part of the oral limb is returned to its proper anatomy. The stoma is closed in the vertical direction using two lines of staples in an everted fashion.

Results: The stoma was located in the terminal ileum (n = 36), transverse colon (n = 3), or sigmoid colon (n = 1). The mean operating time was 55 min and the estimated blood loss was 32 g. There were two postoperative wound infections and one anastomotic stenosis.

Conclusion: Stapling closure of a temporary loop stoma with two lines of staples may be a feasible alternative that decreases morbidity and reduces the operating time.