Penetrating colonic injuries: primary repair versus colostomy

ABSTRACT

To compare the primary repair with colostomy in colonic injuries at tertiary care hospital in terms of morbidity and hospital stay. Quasi experimental study. This study was conducted in the Department of Surgery, Unit II BVH Bahawalpur from 27-01-2010 to 31-8-2010. A total of sixty patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected for this study. Patients were randomly allocated in two groups. Group A [Primary Repair] and Group B [Colostomy], 30 patients in each group. Follow up in group A patients was done twice after 2 weeks and after one month. The follow up in group B was done for multiple times. Initially the visit was advised after every two weeks until the patient was called back for colostomy closure. The mean age in group A was 28.9 +/- 8.1 years and in group B was 30.1 +/- 14.0 years. The mean hospital stay in group A was 8.9 +/- 3.65 days and in group B was 11.0 +/- 4.7 days. At two weeks follow up, in group A, there was one [3.3%] patient of abscess, one [3.3%] of suture repair leak, one [3.3%] patient of sepsis and 2 [6.7%] patients of wound infection. In group B, there were 2 [6.7%] patients of abscess, one [3.3%] patient of suture repair leak, 3 [10%] patients of sepsis and 4 [13.3%] patients of wound infection. This is concluded from our study that primary repair was safe and effective treatment modality in the management of colonic injuries as compared to colostomy