Primary anastomosis versus stoma following urgent sigmoidectomy for sigmoid volvulus: 58-year experience in a tertiary referral center.

OBJECTIVES

Primary anastomosis and stoma are the main options in the restoration of intestinal continuity following urgent sigmoidectomy in sigmoid volvulus (SV). Our purpose was to evaluate the outcomes of both techniques in a 1,083-patient SV series.

METHODS

Total 1,083 cases with SV treated in Ataturk University Research Hospital in 58-year period between June 1966 and July 2024 were included in this study. We reviewed the records of 612 patients (56.5%) retrospectively, while the remaining 471 cases (43.5%) were evaluated prospectively. We investigated some preoperative, operative, and postoperative characteristics in non-matched analyses.

RESULTS

Among total 379 patients treated with urgent colectomy, primary anastomosis was used in 173 cases (45.6%), while stoma was required in 206 patients (54.4%). The mean age was significantly lower in primary anastomosis group (P<0.005), while male/female ratios were statistically similar (P>0.05). Mean ASA score (P<0.001) and rates of shock (P<0.001), bowel gangrene (P<0.001), bowel perforation (P<0.01), and risky bowel (P<0.005) were also significantly lower in the primary anastomosis group. When stoma closure was considered, operation time was significantly shorter (P<0.001), additionally, morbidity and mortality rates were significantly lower in the primary anastomosis group (P<0.001, in each). The distributions of reoperation rates were statistically similar in both groups (P>0.05). Conversely, hospitalization time was significantly shorter and cost was significantly lower in the primary anastomosis group (P<0.001, in each).

CONCLUSION

Primary anastomosis has some advantages in comparison to stoma in the restoration of intestinal continuity following urgent sigmoidectomy in SV. However, stoma is generally preferred in patients with bad health status, old age, and risky bowel. New prospective randomized clinical studies or matched analyses may help to clarify the optimal choice.