Administration of an Oral Hydration Solution Prevents Electrolyte and Fluid Disturbances and Reduces Readmissions in Patients With a Diverting Ileostomy After Colorectal Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND

Patients with a newly formed ileostomy often develop electrolyte abnormalities and dehydration.

OBJECTIVE

The study assessed the prophylactic effect of an isotonic hydration solution on dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities in patients with a newly formed ileostomy.

DESIGN

This was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial (NCT02036346).

SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a single surgical unit of a public university hospital.

PATIENTS: Patients scheduled for elective rectosigmoid resection were considered for study inclusion.

INTERVENTION: Patients in whom a diverting ileostomy was created were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 39), which received an oral isotonic glucose-sodium hydration solution for 40 days postdischarge and the control group (n = 41) which did not receive an intervention. The 2 groups were compared with a group of patients who underwent rectosigmoid resection without diverting ileostomy (n = 37).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum electrolyte and renal function markers were assessed preoperatively and at 20 and 40 days postdischarge.

RESULTS

At 20 days postdischarge, the serum sodium of the control group appeared lower than the serum sodium of the intervention group and the nonileostomy group (p = 0.007). At the same time point, urea and creatinine levels of the control group were higher than the urea and creatinine levels of the other 2 groups (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02). At 40 days postdischarge, mean sodium and renal function markers improved in the control group, but sodium and creatinine continued to differ in comparison with the intervention and nonileostomy groups (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04). The readmission rate for fluid and electrolyte abnormalities was higher in the control group (24%) than in the other 2 groups, where no rehospitalization for such a reason was required (p = 0.001).

LIMITATIONS: The study was limited by its single-center design.

CONCLUSION

An oral isotonic drink postdischarge can have a prophylactic effect on patients with a newly formed ileostomy, preventing readmission for fluid and electrolyte abnormalities. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A603.