Routine versus postoperative CRP/CT guided selective diverting ileostomy after laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer: a comparative randomized controlled trial

Diverting ileostomy is routinely used to protect the anastomosis after laparoscopic low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer, but it exposes most patients to stoma-related morbidity even though only a minority develop a true anastomotic leak. This trial evaluated whether a postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) and computed tomography (CT) guided selective ileostomy strategy could reduce the rate of ileostomy formation compared with routine diversion.