title: Injures of the colon and rectum.
abstract: Experience gained in wartime surgery have made important contributions to the treatment of colon injuries. During World War I, when the method of treatment was primary closure, the mortality rate was 60-70%. In World War II, when, following the recommendation of Ogilvie (15), the preferred method of treatment was exteriorization or proxima colostomy, the mortality rate fell to 25-30%. Given such marked improvement it was inevitable that the practice of exteriorization would be applied to civilian life. In 1951 Woodhall and Ochsner (24) suggested a more selective approach to the treatment of large bowel injuries. Following their report other authors (5, 11, 12, 18) have reported favourable results with primary suture and resection of certain types of colon wounds. During hte last decade the mortality of ano-rectal injury has been further reduced mainly due to the use of a washout of the distal rectum, presacral drainage and proper use of antibiotics.
mesh_terms: D003106:Colon / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D012007:Rectum / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000628:therapy; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000628:therapy