AIM: A stoma rod or bridge has been traditionally placed under the bowel loop while constructing loop colostomies. This is believed to prevent stomal retraction and provide better faecal diversion. However, the rod can cause complications such as @entity33 , @entity4 and @entity39 . This single centre prospective randomized controlled trial compared outcomes after loop colostomy creation with and without a supporting stoma rod. The primary outcome studied was stoma retraction rate, and other stoma related complications were studied as secondary outcomes. METHODS: One hundred and fifty one @entity1 were randomly allotted into one of two arms, colostomy with or without a supporting rod. Post-operative complications such as retraction, muco-cutaneous separation, congestion and re-exploration for stoma related complications were recorded. RESULTS: There was no difference in the stoma retraction rate between the two arms; 8.1% in the rod arm and 6.6% in the no rod arm (p=0.719). @entity39 (10.7 vs. 1.3% p=0.018), @entity4 (23 vs3.9% p=0.001), congestion (20.3 vs. 2.6% p=0.001) and re-admission rates (8.5% vs. 0% p=0.027) were significantly increased in the arm randomised to the rod. CONCLUSIONS: The stoma rod does not prevent stomal retraction. However, complication rates are significantly higher when a stoma rod is used. Routine use of a stoma rod for loop colostomy construction can be avoided. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Prospective randomised controlled trial comparing early post-operative complications in XXXX undergoing loop colostomy with and without a stoma rod.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity4 :: ('MESH:D004487', 'Disease') :: ['oedema'] @entity33 :: ('MESH:D052016', 'Disease') :: ['mucosal congestion'] @entity39 :: ('MESH:D009336', 'Disease') :: ['necrosis', 'Stomal necrosis']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
