[Exteriorized suture of injuries of the colon]

When the use of an intraperitoneal suture of a colon wound does not appear reasonable due to a delay in treatment or the marked peritoneal contamination, temporary exteriorization of the sutured colon can constitute a valuable alternative to pure and simple exteriorization of the colon wound. Cicatrization of the colon suture can be obtained outside the abdominal cavity in more than half the cases. The colon can then be integrated simply at about the 15th day, avoiding in this way the disagreeable need for prolonged colostomy and the potential risks of a construction of a secondary circuit. This process was used in 6 injured patients and healing was obtained in 3.