The incidence of colon injury is low but is associated with adverse outcome if managed inadequately.Colostomy and secondary closure has been the traditional management, which is associated with more pain to the patient and a waste of medical resource. Recent studies indicate that physiologic disturbances after trauma is the main risk factor of anastomotic leak , therefore primary repair or resection and anastomosis is feasible if physiological status of the patient is stable as calibrated by New Injury Severity Score and ASA score. For patients with open abdomen or temporary closure,colonic resection can also be performed at definitive abdominal closure in select cases.
Abdominal Injuries ; complications ; Anastomotic Leak ; Colon ; injuries ; Colonic Diseases ; complications ; surgery ; Colostomy ; Humans ; Wound Healing

Although the treatment strategy for colorectal trauma has advanced during the last part of the twentieth century and the result has improved, compared to other injuries, problems, such as high septic complication rates and mortality rates, still exist, so standard management for colorectal trauma is still a controversial issue. For that reason, we designed this article to address current recommendations for management of colorectal injuries based on a review of literature. According to the reviewed data, although sufficient evidence exists for primary repair being the treatment of choice in most cases of nondestructive colon injuries, many surgeons are still concerned about anastomotic leakage or failure, and prefer to perform a diverting colostomy. Recently, some reports have shown that primary repair or resection and anastomosis, is better than a diverting colostomy even in cases of destructive colon injuries, but it has not fully established as the standard treatment. The same guideline as that for colonic injury is applied in cases of intraperitoneal rectal injuries, and, diversion, primary repair, and presacral drainage are regarded as the standards for the management of extraperitoneal rectal injuries. However, some reports state that primary repair without a diverting colostomy has benefit in the treatment of extraperitoneal rectal injury, and presacral drainage is still controversial. In conclusion, ideally an individual management strategy would be developed for each patient suffering from colorectal injury. To do this, an evidence-based treatment plan should be carefully developed.
Abdominal Injuries ; Anastomotic Leak ; Colon ; Colorectal Surgery ; Colostomy ; Drainage ; Humans ; Stress, Psychological ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating ; Wounds, Penetrating

Colon, Ascending ; injuries ; Foreign Bodies ; complications ; Humans ; Intestinal Perforation ; diagnosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seafood

We report two colorectal trauma patients whose rectosigmoid region was ruptured due to a jet of compressed air directed to their anus while they were playing practical jokes with their colleagues in their place of work. It was difficult to diagnose in one patient due to vague symptoms and signs and due to being stunned by a stroke of the compressed air. Both patients suffered from abdominal pain and distension, tension pneumoperitoneum and mild respiratory alkalosis. One patient was treated with primary two layer closure, and the other with primary two layer closure and sigmoid loop colostomy. Anorectal manometry and transanal ultrasonography checked 4 weeks after surgery, revealed normal anorectal function and anatomy. The postoperative courses were favorable without any wound infection or intraabdominal sepsis.
Accidents, Occupational ; Case Report ; Colon/*injuries/surgery ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Play and Playthings ; Pneumoperitoneum/*complications/surgery ; Rectum/*injuries/surgery ; Rupture

BACKGROUND: The results of recent reports suggest that mechanical bowel preparation before colonic resection and primary anastomosis may be unnecessary. To determine whether mechanical bowel preparation influences the incidence of postoperative complications following colorectal surgery, the records of patients who had undergone colonic or rectal resection were retrospectively reviewed. METHODS: Between March 1992 and October 1997, colonic resection and primary anastomosis without colostomy was performed on 56 patients. Among these, 27 patients had undergone mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) before surgery, and 29 patients had not. We compared the data from both groups with respect to wound infection, anastomotic leak, intra-abdominal sepsis and death. RESULTS: The postoperative complication and mortality rates were similar in the two groups. Wound infection occurred in seven patients (four with MBP, three without), and the incidence of wound infection was similar in the two groups (14.8% versus 10.3%, P=0.700). Wound disruption occurred in two patients (one with MBP, one without). Anastomotic leaks occurred in two patients who had undergone bowel preparation. The overall anastomotic leak rate was 3.6% (7.4% versus 0%), but the incidence of anastomotic leaks was not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.228). No intra-abdominal sepsis was clinically apparent in either group. There was one death, a patient who had undergone bowel preparation. The mortality rate was not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.482). CONCLUSIONS: We believe that mechanical bowel preparation before colonic resection and primary anastomosis may be unnecessary, so routine MBP should be further scrutinized.
Anastomotic Leak ; Colon* ; Colorectal Surgery ; Colostomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries

Toothbrush swallowing is a rare event. Because no cases of spontaneous passage have been reported, prompt removal is recommended to prevent the development of complications. Most swallowed toothbrushes have been found in the esophagus or the stomach of affected patients, and there has been no previously reported case of a toothbrush in the colon. Here, we report a case of a swallowed toothbrush found in the ascending colon that caused a fistula between the right colon and the liver, with a complicating small hepatic abscess. This patient was successfully managed using exploratory laparotomy. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of a swallowed toothbrush found in the colon.
Adult ; Colon/*injuries ; Colonic Diseases/*diagnosis/etiology/surgery ; *Deglutition ; Fistula/*diagnosis/etiology ; Foreign-Body Migration/*surgery ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Toothbrushing/*instrumentation

Laparoscopic techniques are being applied to the surgical management of the colorectal disease. Comparing our twenty-month experience in laparoscopic colectomy with that of the conventional (open) colectomy, we evaluate the efficacy and the safety of laparoscopic operations in colorectal disease. From April 1994 to December 1995, thirty-five patients underwent a colorectal surgery at St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine. Nineteen patients (5 males and 14 females; mean age 54.8 years) were included in the laparoscopic group and fourteen patients (5 males and 9 females; mean age 50.9) were included in the open group. Two conversion cases were excepted due to unfitness for comparison. Malignancy were 15 cases in the laparoscopic group and 9 cases in the open group. To estimate the general advantage of laparoscopic surgery, we compared durations of wound pain and ileus, postoperative hospital stays, and operative time between two groups. Then surgical margins and numbers of lymph nodes harvested were compared between two groups for an evaluation of radical curability of malignant disease. The operative procedures of two groups included abdominoperineal resection, anterior resection, low anterior resection, sigmoid colectomy, right hemicolectomy, and Hartmann's procedure. The conversion rate of laparoscopic colectomy was 9.5 % (2 of 21). In the laparoscopic group, we experienced some advantages in duration of pain and ileus, and postoperative hospital stays, even though there was no statistical significance. Comparable surgical margins and numbers of lymph nodes harvested proved the laparoscopic procedures to be worthy of radical surgery. Between the two groups, morbidity and mortality showed no difference. Although the operative time of the laparoscopic group was longer than that of the open group, it can be decreased with more experience, development of better instruments, and the specialization. Even if we require a long-term survival rate, our data suggest that the laparoscopic colectomy can be accomplished effectively and safely with the accumulation of experience and the advancement of equipments.
Colectomy* ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colorectal Surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Ileus ; Korea ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Mortality ; Operative Time ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Survival Rate ; Wounds and Injuries

Advanced cancer patients with refractory ascites often do not respond to conventional treatments including dietary sodium restriction, diuretics, and repeated large volume paracentesis. In these patients, continuous peritoneal drainage by an indwelling catheter may be an effective option for managing refractory ascites with a relative low complication rate. Peritoneal catheter-induced complications include hypotension, hematoma, leakage, cellulitis, peritonitis, and bowel perforation. Although bowel perforation is a very rare complication, it can become disastrous and necessitates emergency surgical treatment. Herein, we report a case of a 57-year-old male with refractory ascites due to advanced liver cancer who experienced iatrogenic colonic perforation after peritoneal drainage catheter insertion and was treated successfully with endoscopic clipping.
*Catheters, Indwelling ; Colon/*injuries ; Colonoscopy ; Humans ; Intestinal Perforation/*etiology/surgery ; Male ; Medical Errors ; Middle Aged ; Paracentesis/*adverse effects ; Peritoneum ; Rupture ; Surgical Instruments ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the interim oncologic outcome following a laparoscopic resection of colon cancer. METHODS: Prospectively collected data was obtained on 119 patients (M:F=60:59, mean age=56 years) undergoing a laparoscopic colon-cancer resection between January 2001 and May 2004. Fifty-nine tumors were in the sigmoid, 17 in the right colon, 15 in the transverse colon, 12 in the hepatic flexure, 12 in the left colon, 10 in the cecum, and 4 in the splenic flexure. RESULTS: The operative procedures included 51 sigmoidectomies, 48 right colectomies, 15 left colectomies, 3 transverse colectomies, and 2 total abdominal colectomies. The mean operative time was 186 minutes. The mean blood loss was 91 ml. Conversion to an open procedure was not required. TNM stages were 0 in 11 patients, I in 19, II in 55, III in 30, and IV in 4. The portion of T3 plus T4 was 73%. The mean number of resected lymph nodes was 27. The mean proximal and distal margins were 14 cm and 12 cm. The overall morbidity rate was 26% (15 wound seromas/ abscesses, 5 chylous leaks, 3 perianastomotic inflammations, 2 ileus, 2 intraabdominal bleedings, 1 anastomotic leak, 1 anastomotic obstruction, 1 intractable hiccup, 1 fungal peritonitis). There were no operative mortalities. The mean hospital stay was 10 days. Ninety eight patients were followed-up longer than 6 months (median 19 months, range 6~0 months) after the curative resection. Distant metastases occurred in 3 stage-IIIB and 3 stage-IIIC patients (6%): liver (2), liver & peritoneum (1), lung (1), paraaortic and iliac lymph nodes (1), and peritoneum (1). The mean time to recurrence was 10.3 months after the operation There were no local or port-site recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, Laparoscopic resections of colon cancer provided an acceptable morbidity rate and satisfactory early oncologic outcomes. Long-term follow-up is mandatory and ongoing.
Abscess ; Anastomotic Leak ; Cecum ; Colectomy ; Colon* ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Conversion to Open Surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hiccup ; Humans ; Ileus ; Inflammation ; Length of Stay ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Operative Time ; Peritoneum ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Wounds and Injuries