To explore the safety and effect of early ileostomy closure (EIC) at 2–4 weeks and identify specific influencing factors such as patient demographics and clinical characteristics.
Key Findings:
Age, tumor site, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and pathological tumor-node-metastasis (pTNM) stage were identified as independent influencing factors for early ileostomy closure.
The Nomogram prediction model had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.756, indicating good predictive capability for identifying suitable candidates for early closure.
After PSM, no significant difference in post-ileostomy closure complications and anal function between early closure and routine closure groups.
The early closure group had significantly lower stoma-related complications, shorter operative time, and higher SF-36 quality of life scores compared to the routine closure group.
Interpretation:
Early closure of ileostomy at 2–4 weeks is safe and feasible in selected patients, with a predictive model available to guide clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes.
Limitations:
Retrospective design may introduce bias, affecting the reliability of the findings.
Findings are based on a specific patient population in China, which may limit generalizability to other settings.
Conclusion:
The study supports the safety and feasibility of early ileostomy closure at 2–4 weeks in selected rectal cancer patients, with a predictive model that can assist in clinical decision-making.
