CONSORT flow diagram for EASY trial17
*Paralytic ileus (24 patients), Hartmann's procedure with intersphincteric dissection (16), delayed postoperative recovery (15), perioperative complications (7), other infection (5), reoperation (7), high stoma output (5), pulmonary embolism (1), ulcerative colitis (1), extensive cancer disease (3), cardiovascular disease (2), language difficulties (5), diabetes (28), permanent or no stoma (29), steroid treatment (3), other (8). †Centre 6 (2 patients), centre 7 (3) and centre 8 (3). ‡Allocated to early closure, but not possible to carry out operation within 8–13 days (1 patient), early stoma closure outside study (2), patient randomized, but no further information available (1). LARS, low anterior resection syndrome; MSKCC, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.