[Post-operative morbidity and mortality in non traumatic colon emergencies]

This study aimed to evaluate emergency non traumatic colonic surgery mortality and morbidity in our practice

Data of all 85 patients who underwent an emergency non traumatic colonic surgery during the period from August the 1st 1998 to June the 30th 2006, were retrospectively reviewed. Surgical procedures included either colonic resections with (n = 33) or without (n = 47) immediate anastomosis or, ileostomies (n = 3) or colostomies (n = 2) without colonic resection.

A 16.5% (n = 14) mortality rate was recorded due to septic shock (n = 6), postoperative peritonitis (n = 2), stroke (n = 2) and cachexia, malnutrition, acute anemia, acute heart failure (n = 1 each). Morbidity rate was 38.8% (n = 33). Surgical complications (n = 29 34.1%) were related to wound infection (21.1% n = 18), stoma related (n = 6), post-operative peritonitis due to an anastomotic dehiscence and prolonged ileus (n = 2 each), rectorragy (n = 1). Medical complication reached a 4.7% rate and included malaria (n = 2), acute pulmonary edema, diabete acido cetosis (n = 1 each). Seven patients (8.2%) needed a reoperation for post operative complication. Hospital stay was 19.4 days.

Post-operative morbidity and mortality in non traumatic colon emergencies still remain high owing to anastomotic leak, patients comorbidities and infectious complications.