title: Massive colonic haemorrhage--the case for right hemicolectomy.
abstract: A total of 14 patients had operations for massive colonic haemorrhage. Of the seven who had a right hemicolectomy, four had the bleeding site localised, and three had only 'equivocal' indications of a right-sided source. One of these rebled 11 months later, but all survived and are well. Of the remaining patients, two had left-sided resection, one requiring an immediate second operation for rebleeding, and five, subtotal colectomy, of whom two died. A literature review confirms the suggestion that if the bleeding site has not been identified but, nevertheless, there are clues suggesting it to be right-sided, the best results will be obtained by right hemicolectomy. Left-sided resection should be used only when there is proof of left-sided bleeding, otherwise there will be an unacceptably high mortality. No clues, 'equivocal' indications of a left-sided source, or the presence of bilateral disease, should lead the operator to perform subtotal colectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Milewski
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Schofield
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003082:Colectomy; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence