Does Bowel Stimulation Before Loop Ileostomy Closure Reduce Postoperative Ileus?

Postoperative ileus is the most commonly observed morbidity following ileostomy closure. Studies have previously demonstrated that the defunctionalized bowel of a loop ileostomy undergoes a series of functional and structural changes. It has been hypothesized that these changes may contribute to the development of postoperative ileus, and that stimulating the distal limb of a loop ileostomy prior to closure may functionally prepare the excluded bowel for intestinal transit. The purpose of the multicenter, randomized controlled trial is to determine the impact of preoperative stimulation of the distal limb of a loop ileostomy on postoperative ileus.