title: [Restoration of intestinal continuity after Hartmann's procedure].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study was to investigate the associated morbidity and mortality of the restoration of intestinal continuity after Hartmann's procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital records of 29 patients undergoing surgery to restoration of intestinal continuity after Hartmann's procedure at Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais between January 1998 and December 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic, morbidity and mortality data were colleted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 16 men and 13 women with mean age of 52.6 years. The median time between the Hartmann's procedure and the attempt of closure of colostomy was 17.6 months (range,1-84 months). The median operation time was 300 minutes (range, 180-720 min). The restoration of the continuity was successful in 27 patients (93%). Two patients had anastomotic leakage (7%) and 7 had wound infection (22%). The mortality rate was of 3.4% (1/29 patients). There were association between unsuccessful restoration of intestinal continuity and previous attempt of closure (p=.007), chemotherapy (p=.037) and long term stay with colostomy (p =.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The interval between the Hartmann's procedure and the restoration of intestinal continuity should not be long. The patients should be aware that in some circumstances the restoration of intestinal continuity after Hartmann's procedure is not possible due to local conditions of the rectum.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Coloproctologia e Intestino Delgado, Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BR. rodrigogsilva@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Rodrigo Gomes
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Geraldo Rosendo
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: de Castro Júnior
authors.forename: Carmencita Lívia Macartti
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Magda Maria Profeta
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: da Luz
authors.forename: Sérgio Alexandre
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: da Conceição
authors.forename: Antônio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lacerda-Filho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003125:Colostomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult