Early versus conventional stoma closure following bowel surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

Background/Aim: To compare early stoma closure with conventional stoma closure following defunctioning diversion stoma surgery with respect to the frequency of complications, health-related quality of life (QoL), and length of hospitalization (LoH). Patients and Methods: This study was designed as a prospective parallel-arm randomized controlled trial. Patients who underwent temporary stoma following bowel surgery between February 2014 and November 2015 were included. The rate of complications (medical and surgical) following early and conventional stoma closure was assessed. Health-related QoL and LoH were also measured. Results: One hundred patients were included, with 50 cases in each group. Postoperative complications including laparostoma (6% vs. 2%;P = 0.307), wound infection (32% vs. 18%; P = 0.106), intra-abdominal collection (14% vs. 18%; P = 0.585), anastomotic leak (4%vs. 8%;P = 0.400), and medical complications were comparable (22% vs. 32%;P = 0.257). The length of hospital stay, overall mortality and morbidity (64% vs. 44%; P = 0.05) were similar across the two groups. There was a significant reduction in the cost towards stoma care (96% vs. 2%; P = 0.001) in the early stoma closure group. Patients in the early stoma closure group also had a significantly better QoL. Conclusion: Early stoma closure does not carry an increased risk of postoperative complications, reduces cost towards stoma care, and leads to better a QoL.

Sequential versus concomitant therapy for eradication of Helicobacter Pylori in patients with perforated duodenal ulcer: A randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: Comparison of Helicobacter pylori eradication rates, side effects, compliance, cost, and ulcer recurrence of sequential therapy (ST) with that of concomitant therapy (CT) in patients with perforated duodenal ulcer following simple omental patch closure. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with perforated duodenal ulcer treated with simple closure and found to be H. pylori positive on three months follow-up were randomized to receive either ST or CT for H. pylori eradication. Urease test and Giemsa stain were used to assess for H. pylori eradication status. Follow-up endoscopies were done after 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year to evaluate the ulcer recurrence. RESULTS: H. pylori eradication rates were similar in ST and CT groups on intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis (71.43% vs 81.80%,P = 0.40). Similar eradication rates were also found in per-protocol (PP) analysis (86.20% vs 90%,P = 0.71). Ulcer recurrence rate in ST groups and CT groups at 3 months (17.14% vs 6.06%,P = 0.26), 6 months (22.86% vs 9.09%,P = 0.19), and at 1 year (25.71% vs 15.15%,P = 0.37) of follow-up was also similar by ITT analysis. Compliance and side effects to therapies were comparable between the groups. The most common side effects were diarrhoea and metallic taste in ST and CT groups, respectively. A complete course of ST costs Indian Rupees (INR) 570.00, whereas CT costs INR 1080.00. CONCLUSION: H. pylori eradication rates, side effects, compliance, cost, and ulcer recurrences were similar between the two groups. The ST was more economical compared with CT.