Concomitant liver metastases are discovered at the time of diagnosis in 25% of patients with colorectal cancers. The appropriate time to restore digestive continuity after stoma creation during rectal surgery has not yet been established. The objective of this study is to assess the morbidity of stoma reversal during the secondary hepatectomy procedure.

This was a single-center retrospective case-control study including patients who underwent ileostomy or colostomy reversal by a direct approach (REVERSAL group) compared to those who did not undergo stoma reversal (NON-REVERSAL group) during hepatic resection of rectal cancer metastasis between 2004 and 2016. Peri-operative data were collected. The primary outcome measure was the comprehensive complication index (CCI). The secondary outcomes were overall mortality, liver-related morbidity, duration of hospital stay and occurrence of gastrointestinal leaks. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 23.0 software.

Thirty liver resections were included; 14 in the REVERSAL group (female/male=11/19, age=60 years). No statistically significant difference was observed in the CCI scores (15 vs. 20.8; P=0.6). Complications occurred in 9 (64%) and 8 (50%) patients in the REVERSAL and NON-REVERSAL groups, respectively (P=0.48). No gastro-intestinal leaks or post-operative mortality occurred.

Stoma reversal during hepatectomy for liver metastasis from a primary rectal cancer represents a safe alternative since post-operative outcome was not associated with additional morbidity in this series.