Clinical Analysis of Stercoral Perforation of the Colon / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A stercoral perforation of the colon (SPC) is a rare, life-threatening disease. The aim of this study was to represent the definition of SPC and help the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. METHODS: We reviewed 92 medical records of patients who underwent operation due to colonic perforation from January 2000 to February 2009 retrospectively. Maurer's diagnostic criteria were used for the diagnosis of SPC. RESULTS: Eight patients (8.7%) were diagnosed as SPC. The age of the patients ranged from 59 to 85 years old. All of the patients were female and had a history of long-standing constipation. Only two patients (25%) were diagnosed as SPC preoperatively. The site of perforation of all patients was sigmoid colon. The methods of operation were Hartmann's procedure (7 cases), and primary repair with sigmoid loop colostomy (1 case). There were one recurrence and two deaths (25%) due to sepsis and multiple organ failure. CONCLUSIONS: SPC should be considered in chronically constipated, and bedridden patients who present with acute abdomen. Hartmann's procedure is the treatment of choice in most situations. Mortality is high but can be minimized with early definitive surgery.

Predictive Factor for Surgical Indication in Postoperative Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction

PURPOSE: There is a long-standing debate about whether postoperative adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO) is best managed operatively or nonoperatively. The aim of this study is to define predictive factors for surgical indication in the treatment of an adhesive SBO. METHODS: Medical records and laboratory data of 211 patients who had a SBO after a laparotomy from January 2000 to December 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the modality of SBO treatment: operatively and nonoperatively. The laboratory data and clinical parameters were compared between the two groups and a statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: A Mann-Whitney analysis revealed previous SBO history, amylase, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), creatine phosphokinase, drainage amount via a Levin tube to be significant factors associated with surgical management. A multivariate analysis showed drainage amount via a Levin tube of 500 mL/day or greater (P=0.007), amylase of 90 IU/L or greater (P=0.04), and ESR of 11 mm/hr or greater (P=0.03) to be independent predictive factors for surgery. CONCLUSION: Surgical management should be considered among adhesive SBO patients with elevated amylase (> or =90 IU/L) and ESR (> or =11 mm/hr) and with large drainage amount through the Levin tube (> or =500 mL/day).