PEROPERATIVE COLONIC IRRIGATION IN EMERGE NCY TREATMENT OF LEFT COLONIC OCCLUSION

This study reports the use of an intraoperative antegrade colonic irri gation in the management of left-sided large bowel obstruction requiri ng emergency surgery. 35 consecutive patients had primary bowel resect ion with immediate anastomosis (without colostomy) after intraoperativ e antegrade colonic irrigation. The cause of the obstruction was large bowel carcinoma in 26, diverticulitis in seven and volvulus in two ca ses. There were two post-operative deaths (5,7%). No digestive fistula was observed. The results of this study suggest that intraoperative c olonic irrigation is an effective method, enabling the surgeon to perf orm a primary anastomosis with reasonable safety after emergency resec tion of selected distal colonic lesions.