The colovac anastomosis protection device may allow for effective fecal diversion following low anterior resection for rectal cancer, achieving ostomy avoidance without increasing major complications compared to standard diverting loop ileostomy.

• By postoperative day 10, major complications were comparable: 4.1% in the colovac group versus 5.6% with diverting ostomy (p=0.167).
• Effective fecal diversion was reported in 91.7% of patients with the colovac device, with device migration occurring in 14.3%.

This suggests that the colovac device could be a viable alternative to traditional ostomy in selected patients.