“An estimated 100,000 surgical cases result in the creation of a stoma annually, of which approximately 40,000 are ileostomies. Given the truncation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and loss of the colon, ileocecal valve, and “ileal brake”, ileostomy patients are high risk for impaired sodium and water gastrointestinal absorption. Unsurprisingly, such alterations can lead to serious complications such as electrolyte derangements, dehydration, and acute kidney injury.”
“Though the definition of high-ileostomy output is debatable, it is typically recognized that a total ileostomy output exceeding 1.4 L per day has a potential of leading to such complications. An estimated 2030% of ileostomy patients experience high output in the early
postoperative period which imparts increases in morbidity, healthcare resource utilization, and length of inpatient stay.”

“Ileostomy patients are at highest risk for high output in the early postoperative period. Early interventions at preventing high ileostomy output have proved effective at reducing readmission rates for dehydration and require a vigilant multi-disciplinary team to provide
adequate patient education regarding diet, hydration, and early medical therapies. Recognition of other potential infectious, inflammatory, malignant, malabsorptive, or mechanical causes that can also lead to high ileostomy output is key when patients are not responding to conventional therapies. When advisable and technically possible, it is always ideal to restore intestinal continuity between the colon and remnant small bowel to prevent complications associated with high ileostomy output and improve the patient’s quality of life.”

Harold J. Boutté, Vitaliy Poylin, High ileostomy output: A practical review of pathophysiology, causes, and management, Seminars in Colon and Rectal Surgery, Volume 34, Issue 2,
2023,