>bold<>italic/italic<>/bold< Individual trials comparing hand-sewn with stapled closure of loop ileostomy show different outcomes due to lack of statistical power. A systematic review, with a pooled analysis of results, might provide a more definitive answer. This review aimed to compare hand-sewn with stapled anastomotic technique for closure of a loop ileostomy and looked at the effect of bowel resection on the complication rates. >bold<>italic/italic<>/bold< Relevant studies were identified from MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane database. All randomised clinical trials, prospective and retrospective studies comparing hand-sewn with stapled closure of loop ileostomy were included. >bold<>italic/italic<>/bold< Of the 4,917 patients in 15 identified studies, 3,406 had hand-sewn and 1,511 stapled anastomosis. There was no difference in the rate of anastomotic leak between the hand-sewn (2.93%, 55/1,877) and the stapled group (2.08%, 25/1,202) (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.43–1.54, >italic/italic< = 0.52, >italic/italic<>sup<2>/sup< = 33%). The rate of small-bowel obstruction was higher in the hand-sewn group (7.03%, 231/3,284) compared to the stapled group (5.58%, 73/1,308; OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.51–0.92, >italic/italic< = 0.01, >italic/italic<>sup<2>/sup< = 0%). There was no difference in the incidence of anastomotic leak and small-bowel obstruction in the hand-sewn anastomosis between patients with or without bowel resection. >bold<>italic/italic<>/bold< There was no significant difference in the rate of anastomotic leakage between the hand-sewn and stapled techniques. The rate of small-bowel obstruction was higher in the hand-sewn group. Performance of bowel resection does not significantly increase the incidence of anastomotic leak or small-bowel obstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]