Stomas alter the body image. The present study assessed postoperative quality of life on Stoma-QoL score 2 months after admission in patients receiving temporary ileostomy after using a preoperative 3D-printed simulation device on the future ileostomy site.

Patients scheduled for temporary ileostomy were included. They received therapeutic education by stomatherapists, during which either a simple pen mark was made on their abdomen (PM group) or a 3D-printed device was also applied on the marked site (3D group). They filled out a quality-of-life (QoL) questionnaire at 1 and 2 months of hospital stay.

Fifty patients were included. QoL scores at 2 months were 60 ± 9 in PM and 61 ± 11 in 3D ( P = 0.88). Six 3D patients (24%) experienced adverse effects related to the device, compared to 5 in the PM group. During the first month, patients experiencing complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ 3) consulted the stomatherapists more often: 4.8 ± 4.5 consultations, versus 0.2 ± 1.9 for those with no or only minor (grade < 3) complications ( P < 0.001).

The device did not improve postoperative quality of life. Patients with major postoperative complications required closer follow-up by stomatherapists.