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. DESIGN: Prospective, interventional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Surgical Unit II at Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, over a period of 3 1/2 years from June 1999 to December 2002. PATIENTS AND 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). CONCLUSION: Primary repair is a safe method of managing penetrating colon injuries in carefully selected patients.
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. DESIGN: Prospective, interventional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Surgical Unit II at Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, over a period of 3 1/2 years from June 1999 to December 2002. PATIENTS AND 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). CONCLUSION: Primary repair is a safe method of managing penetrating colon injuries in carefully selected patients.