[The value of peroperative colonic lavage in urgent colonic surgery. Apropos of 54 patients]

The effects of on-table colonic irrigation followed by primary large bowel resection and anastomosis for emergency left colonic disease were prospectively studied in 54 patients.Eighteen patients had a diverticular sigmoiditis complicated by localized (8) or generalized (4) peritonitis, 6 presented a complete sigmoid obstruction. Thirty six patients had a left colonic occlusive (33) or perforated (3) cancer. Anterograde colonic irrigation was carried out with a mean volume of 7.7 l. All patients received a double or triple antibiotic combination. The anastomosis was handsewn in 33 cases and stapled (Knight-Griffen) in 21. Seven patients with severe peritonitis had a proximal transitory stoma which was closed within 4 months.Two patients (3.7%) died postoperatively, one for anastomotic dehiscence and the second for evisceration. We observed 7 cases of hypothermia (34 degrees C) during the irrigation. Six patients developed a sepsis of the surgical wound, 2 a septicemia and l an abscess in the right iliac fossa which was percutaneously drained. All complications had a favourable outcome.This study confirms that in selected cases a single stage surgery for colonic emergencies preceded by on-table irrigation grants good results and is a safe and effective alternative to Hartmann's procedure.