A study on hospital stay after loop ileostomy closure

Recent studies have shown that closure of loop ileostomy can be performed in the day-care setting, reducing the length and cost of hospitalisation. By analysing our patients who have undergone closure, we aimed to determine the minimum duration of hospital stay and potential factors behind longer stays. A database of patients undergoing closure of loop ileostomy in our unit was examined. The time taken to discharge, morbidity, complications and re-admission rates were recorded. Fifty four patients underwent reversal of ileostomy between July 2015 and November 2016. Median age was 53 years (range, 22–81 years). The median length of stay was 5 days (range, 5–18 days). Many appeared able to be discharged earlier. Thirty six patients (66.6%) had bowel function within 2 days. Eleven patients (20%) developed complications, which included wound infection (10%), small bowel obstruction/ileus (4%), anastomotic leak (4%) & enterocutaneous fistula (2%). Of the patients, 50% stayed longer than 5 days despite having no postoperative complications. The majority of patients undergoing loop ileostomy reversal at our institution can be discharged earlier than they are at present. Support in the community and the implementation of modified UK day-case surgery protocols are suggested to help shorten patient's length of stay in hospital.