A new approach to extraperitoneal rectal injuries: laparoscopy and diverting loop sigmoid colostomy

BACKGROUND: Current management of extraperitoneal rectal injuries involves a laparotomy and diversion of the fecal stream. In this study, we review our experience with laparoscopy and diverting loop sigmoid colostomy without laparotomy in the management of these injuries. METHODS: All patients admitted to the trauma unit at Groote Schuur Hospital between January 1995 and May 2000 with a rectal injury were evaluated. The presence of a rectal injury was confirmed by rectal examination and proctosigmoidoscopy. Intraperitoneal injuries were excluded by laparoscopy. Only patients who did not have intraperitoneal injuries were included in the study. The patients were then managed with a diverting loop sigmoid colostomy created through an abdominal wall trephine without laparotomy. RESULTS: Ten patients were included in the study. In eight patients, laparoscopy excluded intraperitoneal injuries. All 10 patients had a diverting loop sigmoid colostomy fashioned. There were no complications related to either the rectal injury or colostomy. Nine stomas have since been closed. CONCLUSION: In patients with isolated extraperitoneal rectal injuries, laparoscopic exclusion of intraperitoneal injuries, followed by a diverting loop sigmoid colostomy, is a feasible option.     

Rapid totally diverting loop sigmoid colostomy with noncontaminating rectal irrigation

Loop sigmoid colostomy employing a stapling device and catheter irrigation of the distal segment is less time-consuming and has less potential for contamination than the standard double-barrel colostomy. Unlike the standard loop colostomy, it is totally diverting.     

Management of civilian extraperitoneal rectal injuries

OBJECTIVE: The mortality and morbidity of rectal injuries are highly unsatisfactory. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with rectal injuries to draw some practical guidelines for management of such injuries. METHODS: The medical records of all patients diagnosed at our hospitals with full-thickness rectal injuries between 1994 and 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Full-thickness rectal injuries were identified in 23 patients; 19 patients had extraperitoneal injuries and four had both intra- and extraperitoneal injuries. The mean age was 33.5 years (range, 5-73 years). The mechanism of injury was penetrating in 11 patients, blunt in six, impalement in three and iatrogenic in three. Injuries were closed primarily in 17 patients, with variable combinations of adjunct procedures. Eight patients were treated without colostomy. Drainage and rectal washout were performed in 11 and six patients, respectively. Overall, 11 patients developed complications, including eight wound infections and five pelvic septic complications related to the rectal injury. Four of the five pelvic septic complications and all three deaths occurred in patients with shock, at least two associated-organ injuries and more than 6 hours' delay in treatment. CONCLUSION: Rectal injuries are serious additive mortality and morbidity factors in multi-injured patients. Regardless of treatment modality, wound infection is associated with shock at presentation and more than 6 hours' delay in treatment.     

腹腔镜腹膜外乙状结肠造口的制作及应用

目的探讨腹腔镜下腹膜外乙状结肠造口的安全性和可行性。方法前瞻性入组2011年7月至2012年7月间南京中医药大学第三附属医院肛肠中心收治的36例行腹腔镜腹会阴联合切除术的低位直肠癌患者,按随机数字表法分为腹膜内造口组和腹膜外造口组,每组18例。术后随访4～16（中位7）月,比较两组患者造口并发症情况。结果腹膜外造口组1例患者因乙状结肠近端拖出后肠壁血供障碍而改行腹膜内造口,故后续的分析中予以剔除。腹膜外造口组手术时间[（25．3±8．5）min]稍长于腹膜内造口组[（14．7±6．4）min],但差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。两组各有1例术后早期（4周以内）出现造口缺血,均行造口重建手术;腹膜外造口组术后造口水肿发生率明显高于腹膜内造口组[35．3％（6／17）比0,P〈O．05];两组术后早期总并发症发生率差异无统计学意义[58．8％（10／17）比27．8％（5／18）,P〉O．05]。腹膜外造口组后期（超过4周）未出现并发症;腹膜内造口组出现1例造口脱垂、1例造口狭窄和2例造口旁疝,并发症发生率为22．2％（4／18）,两组比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论腹腔镜腹膜外乙状结肠造口操作并不比腹膜内造口复杂。且其后期造口并发症明显少于腹膜内造口。     

Irrigation management of sigmoid colostomy

Questionnaires were sent to 270 patients who had undergone abdominoperineal resection and sigmoid colostomy at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn, during the ten years from 1972 to 1982; 223 patients returned their questionnaires with evaluable data. Sixty percent of the patients were continent with irrigation, and 22% were incontinent with irrigation. Eighteen percent had discontinued irrigation for various reasons. The proportion continent was higher in women, younger patients, and previously constipated patients. A poorly constructed colostomy may cause acute angle, parastoma hernia, stomal prolapse, or stenosis and thus be the cause of failure of irrigation.     

简易腹膜外乙状结肠造口预防直肠癌Miles术后造口旁疝

目的:介绍一种直肠癌术后预防造口旁疝的简易肠造口制作方法.方法:对造口处的腹外斜肌腱膜主要作横形切开而不是十字形切开;腹膜外通道的建立是靠术者左手制作;在造口部位的缝合上不作过多层面的缝合,主要将结肠末端全层与皮肤真皮层间断缝合.结果:无1例发生造口旁疝.无1例发生造口坏死、造口脱垂、造口回缩、狭窄和肠梗阻等.结论:简易腹膜外乙状结肠造口不仅可预防miles术后造口旁疝,且制作方便.     

Rectal gunshot wounds. Management of civilian injuries

The diagnosis and operative management of 43 consecutive low velocity wounds of the rectum were evaluated with regard to postoperative morbidity and mortality. Rectal and proctoscopic examinations, although frequently positive (80% and 91%, respectively), were not uniformly reliable in making the preoperative diagnosis. Diversion of the fecal stream by colostomy occupies a key role in operative management. Loop colostomy appears not only as efficacious as end colostomy and mucus fistula, but also requires less time to perform and subsequently close. Distal rectal washout is an important adjunct which reduces the incidence of rectal and intra-abdominal infectious complications. Civilian and military wounds of the rectum appear to differ in terms of the postoperative complications, mortality rate, and management techniques.     

Pattern of civilian gunshot injuries in Irrua, Nigeria

This retrospective review of 76 patients with gunshot wounds was undertaken to evaluate the pattern and outcome of civilian gunshot injuries in our region. The extremities were the most commonly affected site (51.5% of all gunshot wounds). Gunshot injuries were most common among young males in the third decade of life, and armed robbery was the cause of gunshot trauma in 69.7% of cases. Time from injury to arrival at hospital was less than 6 hours in 64.4% of cases. Wound exploration and debridement were the mode of treatment in the majority of cases. Hypovolaemia resulting from acute haemorrhage accounted for 52.9% of complications. The mortality rate was 5.3%. It is pertinent to observe that inefficient firearm control is a major factor contributing to civilian gunshot injuries in our region. In addition, high rates of unemployment and poverty in our society may be contributing to the increasing incidence of youth restiveness, armed robbery and associated gunshot injuries. Strong government legislation is required to provide adequate security for the teeming civilian population. The national government should embark on a poverty eradication strategy and engage the youth in gainful employment to reduce the incidence of youth restiveness, armed robbery and firearm-related violence.     

Transverse colostomy or loop ileostomy as diverting stoma in colorectal surgery

This study summarizes the clinical results after 61 operations including diverting stomas in 56 patients. 29 transverse colostomies and 32 loop ileostomies were constructed over a 2-year period. Two thirds of the operations were performed on acute indications. The patients were followed up with regard to closure rate and complications up until the end of 1985. Within this period there was a closure rate of 38% and a stoma-related complication rate of 21% without any significant difference between the two different groups of stomas. The complications following ileostomy appeared to be more serious than those after transverse colostomy.     

Surgical treatment of extraperitoneal rectal and perineal injuries

The aim of this study was to analyse the results of the treatment of extraperitoneal rectal and perineal injuries for 153 patients. All the patients were examined according to the scheme. Therapeutic-diagnostic algorithm was developed for perineal, anal, rectal injuries. Wide opening and drainage of the wound was used. The method allows to avoid colostomy and its subsequent operative closing in extraperitoneal injury of the rectum. The method of surgical treatment is recommended in extraperitoneal rectal and perineal injuries.     

Diagnostic laparoscopy in gunshot wounds of the abdomen in children

Diagnostic laparoscopy in gunshot wounds of the abdomen was performed in 14 children. The diagnostic value of laparoscopic and other methods of diagnostics was evaluated. An analysis of the results has shown that laparoscopy for gunshot wounds of the abdomen in children is of great diagnostic value. The indications and contraindications for diagnostic laparoscopy in such cases have been formulated. The surgical strategy used reduced 3 times the number of unnecessary laparoscopies for gunshot wounds of the abdomen in children.     

Similarities between civilian gunshot wounds to the head and nongunshot head injuries

BACKGROUND: This investigation compared the cerebral pathophysiologic status of gunshot wounds to the head (GSWH) with that of severe head injury of other causes (non-GSWH). METHODS: Data were collected prospectively from 71 GSWH and 541 non-GSWH patients. The two groups had similar demographic characteristics and injury severities. Cerebral metabolic parameters for each patient were averaged for the entire period of monitoring. These per-patient averages were compared between GSWH and non-GSWH groups. RESULTS: Median intracranial pressure was 21.4 mm Hg in GSWH patients vs. 16.7 mm Hg in non-GSWH patients (p < 0.001). Mean arterial pressures were similar, but the higher intracranial pressure in GSWH patients produced a lower median cerebral perfusion pressure. Cerebral blood flow, cerebrovascular resistance, cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen, average jugular venous oxygen saturation, and number of jugular venous desaturations did not differ significantly between the groups. Three-month outcome was death in 43% of GSWH patients and 32% of non-GSWH patients, persistent vegetative state or severe disability in 33% and 32%, respectively, and moderate disability or good recovery in 24% and 36%, respectively. These outcomes were not significantly different (p = 0.11). CONCLUSION: GSWH patients suffer global cerebral metabolic disturbances that are at least as severe as those seen in non-GSWH patients with injuries of comparable severity. This selected population of GSWH patients may enjoy outcomes comparable to those of non-GSWH patients if they are treated by the same aggressive protocols.     

Errors and complications in the diagnosis and treatment of extraperitoneal rectal injuries

On the basis of observations of 11 patients with extraperitoneal injuries of the rectum the authors give recommendations on diagnosis and treatment. Operations on patients with extraperitoneal injuries should be completed by creation of the unnatural anus.     

The value of diverting loop ileostomy on the high-risk colon and rectal anastomosis

INTRODUCTION: The need for diverting loop ileostomies to protect high-risk anastomoses has been questioned recently by several authors. This study was designed to evaluate the potential benefits and complications of diverting loop ileostomies in a high-risk anastomosis population. METHODS: Ninety-four consecutive patients undergoing diverting loop ileostomy were evaluated from a prospective database between 2003 and 2006. Criteria for diversion were: anastomosis less than 5 cm from the anal verge, previous pelvic radiation therapy, obstruction, and infection. Data regarding patient demographics, underlying pathology, anastomotic problems, and ileostomy-related problems were gathered. RESULTS: Indications for surgery were malignancy (n = 40), ulcerative colitis (n = 37), acute diverticulitis (n = 12), perirectal fistulas (n = 3), and familial polyposis (n = 2). There were 5 anastomotic complications. One required permanent stoma and 4 required delay in diverting ileostomy closure but no other intervention. Ileostomy-related problems were limited to minor stoma and pouch complaints requiring stoma nurse evaluation (n = 23), dehydration requiring outpatient (n = 8) or inpatient (n = 4) intravenous fluids, stricture at stoma closure site (n = 2), and bleeding at stoma closure site (n = 1). Four stoma site hernias (4.3%) have been identified to date. CONCLUSION: The use of diverting loop ileostomy in patients undergoing colon and rectal surgery with high-risk anastomoses is beneficial. Their selected use has resulted in a 1% anastomotic loss rate with an acceptably low rate of complications related to the ileostomy.     

Airway status in civilian maxillofacial gunshot injuries in Johannesburg, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Airway management of the maxillofacial gunshot injury constitutes a critical decision and an area that requires review in the context of civilian injuries. Most of our knowledge is extrapolated from military experience, which constitutes a different trauma patient group. This paper reports a retrospective survey of airway status in relation to maxillofacial gunshot injuries. The objective is to correlate clinical findings with treatment decisions. METHODS: A survey was done of 11,622 archived maxillofacial surgery records (1987-1992) in the three academic hospitals in Johannesburg. RESULTS: There were 211 maxillofacial gunshot injuries, for which 92 patient records had sufficient detail for inclusion in the analysis. The typical patient was a black male aged 20-29 years, shot with a low-velocity bullet of 0.38 calibre, admitted to hospital the day of the injury, operated on within 4 days, and discharged 4 days later. The airway was threatened in 20/92 cases at admission; 12/20 cases were treated with oro-or nasotracheal intubation, and 9/12 later had elective tracheostomies; 8/20 needed immediate surgical airways, 5 tracheostomies and 3 cricothyroldotomies (all later converted to tracheostomies). Three of thirty-seven patients with normal airways on admission later required emergency tracheostomy. CONCLUSIONS: An abnormal airway was significantly more likely after a high-velocity injury, and when the tongue, floor of mouth, midline or bilateral facial skeletal bones were involved.