Association between postoperative glutamine supplementation and short-term outcomes after ileostomy reversal in patients with colorectal cancer: a retrospective cohort study
Abstract
IntroductionIleostomy reversal is associated with substantial postoperative morbidity despite being considered a relatively minor surgical procedure. Although glutamine supplementation has been investigated in gastrointestinal surgery, evidence regarding its role in patients undergoing ileostomy reversal remains limited. This study evaluated the association between postoperative glutamine supplementation and short-term outcomes following ileostomy reversal in patients with colorectal cancer.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients with colorectal cancer who underwent elective ileostomy reversal between January 2015 and December 2025. Patients were classified into the glutamine group, who received postoperative intravenous glutamine supplementation, and the control group. Postoperative outcomes within 30 days, including complications, gastrointestinal recovery, and length of hospital stay, were compared between groups.ResultsA total of 183 patients were included, comprising 103 patients in the glutamine group and 80 in the control group. After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), 74 matched pairs were identified. Compared with the control group, the glutamine group had a significantly lower incidence of overall postoperative complications (14.9% vs. 29.7%, P = 0.043) and infectious complications (9.5% vs. 23.0%, P = 0.041). The glutamine group also had shorter times to first flatus, first defecation, and initiation of oral diets, as well as lower incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting and abdominal distension. Hospital stay was shorter in the glutamine group. No significant between-group differences were observed in postoperative serum prealbumin, total protein, or albumin levels.ConclusionsIn this PSM study, postoperative glutamine supplementation was associated with fewer postoperative complications, faster gastrointestinal recovery, and shorter hospital stay following ileostomy reversal in patients with colorectal cancer. These findings indicate a potential association between glutamine supplementation and favorable short-term postoperative outcomes and warrant confirmation in prospective randomized studies.
Related
- Association of probiotics combined with glutamine with postoperative outcomes in children with Hirschsprung disease: a retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study.
- Association between Intraoperative Blood Loss and Postoperative Outcomes in Colorectal Perforation: A Retrospective Observational Study in Japan.
- Association between anesthetic fresh gas flow and postoperative inflammatory response in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy : A retrospective cohort study
- Association between postoperative serum calcium and complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy in a retrospective multicenter study
- Association of preoperative systemic immune-inflammation index and geriatric nutritional risk index with prolonged postoperative length of stay in older patients with hip fracture : A retrospective cohort study
BibTeX
@article{xiao2026association,
title = {{Association between postoperative glutamine supplementation and short-term outcomes after ileostomy reversal in patients with colorectal cancer: a retrospective cohort study}},
author = {Dachun Xiao and Xiong Zhou and Qigang Li and Jian Xie},
journal = {Frontiers in Oncology},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fonc.2026.1950443},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2026.1950443},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Association between postoperative glutamine supplementation and short-term outcomes after ileostomy reversal in patients with colorectal cancer: a retrospective cohort study
AU - Dachun Xiao
AU - Xiong Zhou
AU - Qigang Li
AU - Jian Xie
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/05
JO - Frontiers in Oncology
DO - 10.3389/fonc.2026.1950443
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2026.1950443
AB - IntroductionIleostomy reversal is associated with substantial postoperative morbidity despite being considered a relatively minor surgical procedure. Although glutamine supplementation has been investigated in gastrointestinal surgery, evidence regarding its role in patients undergoing ileostomy reversal remains limited. This study evaluated the association between postoperative glutamine supplementation and short-term outcomes following ileostomy reversal in patients with colorectal cancer.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients with colorectal cancer who underwent elective ileostomy reversal between January 2015 and December 2025. Patients were classified into the glutamine group, who received postoperative intravenous glutamine supplementation, and the control group. Postoperative outcomes within 30 days, including complications, gastrointestinal recovery, and length of hospital stay, were compared between groups.ResultsA total of 183 patients were included, comprising 103 patients in the glutamine group and 80 in the control group. After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), 74 matched pairs were identified. Compared with the control group, the glutamine group had a significantly lower incidence of overall postoperative complications (14.9% vs. 29.7%, P = 0.043) and infectious complications (9.5% vs. 23.0%, P = 0.041). The glutamine group also had shorter times to first flatus, first defecation, and initiation of oral diets, as well as lower incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting and abdominal distension. Hospital stay was shorter in the glutamine group. No significant between-group differences were observed in postoperative serum prealbumin, total protein, or albumin levels.ConclusionsIn this PSM study, postoperative glutamine supplementation was associated with fewer postoperative complications, faster gastrointestinal recovery, and shorter hospital stay following ileostomy reversal in patients with colorectal cancer. These findings indicate a potential association between glutamine supplementation and favorable short-term postoperative outcomes and warrant confirmation in prospective randomized studies.
SN - 2234-943X
ER -