Complications in surgery of the right colon

One hundred and fifteen cases of right hemicolectomy for cancer or others pathological conditions, operated on over a 5-year period, were evaluated. The overall incidence of complications was high (47%). A more thorough analysis of data showed that infective complications, such as bronchopneumonia (27.8%) and urinary infections (10.4%) markedly affected this incidence. In contrast, there was a much lower incidence of surgical complications mainly wound infection (14.8%) and anastomotic fistulas (4%), the incidence of which was lower than that reported in the literature. Furthermore, the difference between stapled and hand-made sutures, in terms of fistulas, was only 2%, in favour of the former.