Abstract
Background Many publications describe the advantages of the creation of ghost ileostomy (GI)
to prevent the need for formal covering ileostomy in more than 80% of carcinoma rectum
patients. However, none of the papers describes exactly how to ultimately remove the
GI in these 80% of patients in whom it doesn't need formal maturation.
Aim To describe and evaluate the ghost ileostomy release down (GIRD) technique in terms
of feasibility, complications, hospital stay, procedure time etc. in patients with
low anterior resection/ultra-low anterior resection (LAR/uLAR) with GI for carcinoma
rectum.
Method The present was a prospective cohort study of patients with restorative colorectal
resections with GI for carcinoma rectum, Postoperatively the patients were studied
with respect to ease and feasibility of the release down of GI and its complications.
The data was collected, analyzed and inference drawn.
Results A total of 26 patients needed the GIRD and were included in the final statistical
analysis of the study. The procedure was done between 7th to 16th postoperative days (POD) and was successful in all patients without the need of any
additional surgical procedure. None of the patients required any local anesthetic
injection or any extra analgesics. The average time taken for procedure was 5-minutes
and none of the patients had any significant difficulty in GI release. There were
no immediate postprocedure complications.
Conclusion The GIRD technique is a simple, safe, and quick procedure done around the 10th POD that can easily be performed by the bedside of patient without the need of any
anesthesia or additional analgesics.
Keywords
ghost Ileostomy - ghost Ileostomy release down - low anterior resection - carcinoma
rectum
