title: Hartmann's operation.
abstract: Hartmann's operation for rectal cancer is a term that has been misapplied. Complications have occurred when the rectal stump has been too long and the blood supply has been insufficient for clean healing. That is not what Hartmann described. His procedure was to transect the rectum and to close it at, or below, the peritoneal reflection, which is where the bowel is supplied blood by the inferior hemorrhoidal arteries. The rationale for this approach is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mount Zion Hospital, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Rosenman
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012007:Rectum / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods