Introduction/Background Ghost-stomy is a technique used in surgery as an alternative to loop ileostomy for protective purposes during the healing of bowel anastomosis (or multiple anastomoses) after extensive abdominal surgeries.

The aim of study was to summarize the authors' experience in the gynecologic oncology center during 6 months, when the ghost-stomy technique started to be used in patients undergoing modified technique segmental bowel resections or modified posterior exenteration due to deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE).

Methodology Data regarding two groups of patients were compared:

Group A - operated within the last 6 months due to DIE involving at least 1 intestinal tumor - protection of anastomosis using ghost-stomy: 10 of 34 cases

Group B - patients operated within the 12 months preceding the study period due to DIE involving at least 1 intestinal tumor - protection of anastomosis with loop ileostomy: 8 of 89 cases

During the analysis the percentage of procedures performed, complications, length of hospitalization, tolerance of the treatment were assessed.

Results

1. Ghost-stoma technique was used more frequently - in 29% of cases vs. 9% of protective ileostomies.

2. The percentage of emergency stomas was: group A: 0% vs. 3% in group B.

3. Length of hospitalization measured in postoperative days: on average, 5.5 days in group A vs. 4.5 days in group B.

4. No complications resulting from the creation of a protective ileostomy were found compared to 1 case of a peritoneo-cutaneous fistula after removal of the ghost-stoma.

Conclusion

1. The use of ghost-stoma results in a longer hospitalization time but does not require invasive intervention - stoma removal.

2. In group A (ghost-stoma), not a single patient required emergency stoma was found - this requires further observation.

3. Potential complications resulting from the use of ghost-stoma (according to our experience, enterocutaneous fistula) do not pose a significant clinical problem.

Disclosures None