This study aims to propose a novel, easy-to-operate intervention strategy that effectively improves defecation function after stoma reversal and to assess its impact on the gut microbiota.The efficacy and safety of antegrade placement of probiotics into the distal deserted intestine during prophylactic stoma to improve bowel function after stoma reversal were evaluated through randomized controlled clinical trials.Observing the changes in gut microbiota during the prophylactic stoma period, the impact of probiotics on the structure of gut microbiota, and exploring the correlation between gut genera and bowel function after stoma reversal.
This study includes patients with ultra low rectal cancer who underwent ISR（Intersphincteric Resection） and prophylactic ileostomy. Patients are randomly assigned to the low dose group,high dose group and the control group in a 1:1:1 ratio. The low dose group received interventions (4 Meiya pills, administered into the dysfunctional intestine once a week) starting 1 week after the ileostomy, the high dose group received interventions (4 Meiya pills, administered into the dysfunctional intestine twice a week) starting 1 week after the ileostomy, while the control group received routine postoperative follow-up. Evaluation indicators included bowel function and quality of life before the prophylactic ileostomy and 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months and so on until two years after the stoma reversal. Fecal samples are collected prior to prophylactic ileostomy. Post-stoma reversal surgery, fecal samples are obtained from patients at their first defecation . All fecal samples underwent 16s rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to compare the microbial composition differences among three groups. Key genera associated with bowel function were identified through correlation analysis.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
156
Clostridium butyricum (live) Tablet administered into the dysfunctional intestine for low dose and high dose group, while control group has no intervention
Huashan Hospital Fudan University
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
RECRUITINGLow Anterior Resection Syndrome Score（LARS Score）
Comparison of LARS scores among the three groups at one month postoperatively. Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) is characterized by major symptoms including difficulty defecating, urgency, incontinence of liquid stool, incontinence of flatus, and increased frequency of bowel movements. Based on severity, LARS can be classified as none (0-20 points), minor (21-29 points), or major (30-42 points) using LARS score. And higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Time frame: One month after stoma reversal
microbial diversity
Fecal samples from study participants with ISR preoperatively and postoperatively will be collected to analyze the alpha and beta diversity of gut microbiota among the three groups
Time frame: The first stool sample will be collected within one week before ISR surgery, and the second stool sample will be collected within three to five days after stoma reversal, upon the first bowel movement.
Wexner Incontinence Score
The Wexner Incontinence Score (WIS) assesses the severity of incontinence from five aspects: solid stool incontinence, liquid stool incontinence, flatus incontinence, pad usage, and lifestyle alterations. The score ranges from 0 to 20, where 0 represents normal and 20 represents complete incontinence.
Time frame: one month after ISR
Kirwan Incontinence Score
This grading system classifies anal incontinence into five grades (I-V) based on symptom severity: Grade I: No incontinence; Grade II: Incontinence to flatus or liquid stool; Grade III: Occasional solid stool incontinence; Grade IV: Frequent solid stool incontinence; Grade V: Requires a stoma (fecal diversion). Among these, Grades I-II indicate good continence function, while Grades III-IV indicate poor continence function.
Time frame: one month after ISR
Exploratory LARS Scoring Instrument
An exploratory scoring instrument was used to determine the severity of 16 specific variables that were identified by the Delphi consensus for defining LARS. In accordance with the response range defined by the WIS, there were 5 frequency options ranging from never (meaning no episodes; score 0) to always (meaning 1 or more episodes/day; score 4) for each item. Given that social and psychological features (marital separation, divorce, widowed seniors, etc) may have an influence on "relationships and intimacy," its response category for "never" was replaced with dichotomous options of "none" and "N/A." The summary score, also called the Delphi consensus severity score, was used as an index for patient-reported severity of LARS, ranging from 0 (best) to 64 (worst).
Time frame: one month after ISR
Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life (FIQL) Scale
The Fecal Incontinence Quality-of-Life (FIQL) Scale was used to analyze CSQoL. The FIQL entails 29 items that cover 4 domains: lifestyle (10 items), coping/behavior (9 items), depression/self-perception (7 items), and embarrassment (3 items).19 Each item has a range of 1 to 4 (except 2 items in depression/self-perception with ranges of 1-5 and 1-6). The score for each domain is the average of all items within its domain, and the global score is the mean of all domains. Higher scores indicate better CSQoL.
Time frame: one month after ISR
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