ON-TABLE LAVAGE USING AN IRRIGATION PUMP

We report about a time saving method of on-table lavage of the colon. For irrigation a balloon-catheter is inserted into the colon through a small caecotomy. This catheter is connected to an irrigation pump whi ch we usually use for abdominal lavage in peritonitis. After mobilisat ion the oral end of the later colonic anastomosis is led over the late ral abdominal wall into a plastic tube. Now a continuous irrigation wi th a controlled flow-rate of 1 l/min is achieved with the aid of the l avage pump. As irrigation liquid we use Ringer's solution. Pressure is limited by an overflow mechanism. In addition after rearrangement the high irrigation flow of the system allows a thorough cleansing of the rectal stump. Between 1992 and 1995 we carried out intra-operative co lonic irrigation using the method set out above in 24 patients. The av erage volume was 8.9 l of Ringer's solution. The irrigation itself len gthened the operation time by an average of 10 min.