Patients' experience and quality of life with a loop ileostomy

Abstract

Background: Temporary proximmal faecal diversion has been either loop ileostomy or loop colostomy. Recently, loop ileostomy has been preferred over loop colostomy. This study evaluated patient's quality of life with a temporary diverting loop ileostomy. Patients and methods: Life quality of 25 (8 males, median age 40 years, range 22-70 years) patients who underwent creation of a loop ileostomy at the university surgical unit of North Colombo General Hospital were evaluated using self-administrated structured questionnaire. Responses were obrained for ten life quality questions on visual analogue rating scale (0-100mm) and graded good (71-100), satisfactory (31-70) or poor (0-30). Results: Twenty four (96 percent ) patients were able to purchase their stoma appliances without much difficulty. Almost all patients reported a tolerable ileostomy effluent. Seventeen (94 percent ) of 18 patients reported abstinence from sexual activity. A loop ileostomy had no effect on appetite in 60 percent , travel by public transport on 20 percent , and dress in 8 percent , or activities of daily living in 20 percent of patients. Conclusion: A loop ileostomy seems to impair quality of life in most patients. Strained sexual relationships appear to be the most distressing problem. Most patients are able to bare the cost of their stoma appliances.