Evaluation of weight status during the time between ileostomy formation and closure in individuals who were operated due to rectal cancer

Abstract

Background: Approximately 50 percent of the patients who had undergone colorectal surgery may experience weight loss due to several reasons. Stoma is one of those reasons. The aim of this study is to evaluate weight changes during the time between ileostomy formation and closure in individuals who were operated due to rectal cancer. Material and Methods: A total of 23 people (13 males and 10 females), who had undergone laparoscopy assisted low anterior resection with ileostomy formation and whose mean ages were 55.52±12.40 (between 33−77), were included in the study. Patients with colostomy, distant metastasis, ileostomy formation due to a reason except rectal cancer and type 1 diabetes were excluded. Weight data before ileostomy formation and on admission day to hospital due to the closure of ileostomy were used. Results: 8.7 percent of the patients included in the study were diagnosed with rectal cancer stage 0, 13 percent were stage 1, 34.8 percent were stage 2, 34.8 percent were stage 3 and 8.7 percent were stage 4. Mean time between ileostomy formation and closure was found to be 101.78±53.18 days (between 59–249 days). While 61 percent of the patients lost their 4.55±0.03 percent of their weights, 26 percent of the patients gained 4.3±0.06 percent of their weights and there was not any weight change in 13 percent of the patients. There was not any significant difference found between BMI values before the ileostomy formation (mean 27.89±5.73 kg/m2) and BMI values on the admission day to hospital due to the closure of ileostomy (mean 27.48±5.72 kg/m2) (p = 0.204). Furthermore, when the relationship between weight change and blood electrolyte (Na, K, Cl) levels was investigated, a significant difference was not found. Conclusions: Individuals with stoma are at risk for malnutrition due to decreased food intake, malabsorption and nutrient loss via stoma. However, in our study there was not any statistically significant difference in BMI values of patients during the process of ileostomy formation and closure. It is important that patients with stoma formation should be followed by a multidisciplinary team in order to meet the nutritional needs of the patients and resolve problems that patients may experience at an early stage.