Current practice in Australia and New Zealand for defunctioning ileostomy after rectal cancer surgery with anastomosis: Analysis of the Binational Colorectal Cancer Audit.

In Australia and New Zealand, most patients who underwent rectal cancer resections with the formation of an anastomosis received a defunctioning stoma. A defunctioning stoma does not prevent AL from occurring but is mostly associated with a lower reoperation rate. Patients with a defunctioning stoma experienced a higher postoperative ileus rate and had an increased LOS.