Outcome of primary repair in penetrating colonic injuries.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the outcome of primary repair in penetrating colonic injuries in terms of regional/local morbidity (suture line breakdown, intra-abdominal abscess) and mortality.


METHODS
Prospective, interventional study.


METHODS
Surgical Unit II at Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, over a period of 3 1/2 years from June 1999 to December 2002.


METHODS
Out of 38 consecutive patients with penetrating colon injuries, a selective group of 25 patients (65.7%) undergoing primary repair (simple suture, resection and anastomosis without covering colostomy and right hemicolectomy) were included in this study. The morbidity and mortality variables were recorded and statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
Majority of our patients were of younger age group (mean 25 years). Twenty patients (80%) were male. The commonest mode of injury was firearm injury (72%). The time interval between injury and repair was 3-11 hours (mean 7 hours). Simple repair of colon with interrupted stitches was the commonest procedure performed (44%), followed by right hemicolectomy (32%). Colon related complications developed in 3 patients (12%), which included two fecal fistulae and one intra-abdominal collection. One patient died of septicemia (4%). Hospital stay ranged between 6-16 days (mean 8 days).


CONCLUSIONS
Primary repair is a safe method of managing penetrating colon injuries in carefully selected patients.
Hussain
Muhammad Ibrar
MI
Department of Surgery, Surgical Unit II, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore.
Zahid
Muhammad
M
Askri
Hasan
H
Hussain
Tauqeer
T
Khan
Abul Fazal Ali
AF
D000328:Adult; D003106:Colon / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*