Primary repair of colon wounds. A prospective trial in nonselected patients

102 patients with penetrating intraperitoneal colon injuries were entered into a prospective study. Colon wound management was undertaken without regard to associated injuries or amount of fecal contamination. Primary repair was performed in 83 patients, segmental resection with anastomosis in 12, and resection with end colostomy in 7. There were no suture line failures in the primary repair group, and one suture line failure in the anastomosis group. The one failure was in a patient who underwent repeated explorations for bleeding before the leak occurred. The septic complication rate was 33% of the entire series and was unrelated to primary repair. Logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors for sepsis included transfusion greater than or equal to 4 units (p less than 0.02), more than two associated injuries (p less than 0.04), significant contamination (p less than 0.05), and increasing colon injury severity scores (p less than 0.02). The method of colon wound management, location and mode of injury, presence of hypotension (BP less than 90), and age did not significantly contribute to sepsis. We conclude that nearly all penetrating colon wounds can be repaired primarily or with resection and anastomosis, regardless of risk factors.