Experience of exteriorization of colon after primary repair with a special technique in penetrating injuries of abdomen

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to introduce a technique of repairing colonic injuries to minimize the chances of leakage/disruption seen so often with other methods of primary colonic repair. It is a prospective study carried out over a period of thirty months. Thirty nine consecutive patients were admitted through emergency with penetrating trauma to colon in the surgical units of a major teaching hospital. The age of the patients ranged from 14-70 years. Of these, 29 patients were male and 10 females. Primary repair of injured colon was done with a special technique of seperate closure of mucosal and sero muscular layers. Daily inspection of the repaired exteriorized colon was done. It was later reposed into the abdomen after the bowel activity started. None of our patients developed any evidence of anastomotic leak. Although the number of cases is small, this method is quite safe and the hazard of placing a primarily repaired colon in a closed abdomen is also overcome