Abstract:Objective：To study the value of protective ileostomy in preventing anastomotic leakage following ultralow anterior resection for rectal cancer.
Methods ：The clinical records of 98 patients with rectal cancer electivly undergoing ultralow anterior resection were retrospectively analyzed. A randomized comparative study between ileostomy group (45 patients) and without ileostomy group (53 patients) was conducted.
Results：An anastomotic leakage was diagnosed in 11 patients (20.8%) without protective ileostomy and in only 1 patients (2.2%) with ileostomy.
Conclusions：The elective use of a protective ileostomy for ultralow anterior resection can effectively reduce the rate of anastomotic leakage.