Laparoscopic Management of Spontaneous Colonic Perforation: A Single Institution Study of 52 Patients

Spontaneous colonic perforation (SCP) is associated with an devastating result. The use of laparoscopy for SCP remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the postoperative outcomes of patients who received either laparoscopic or open surgery and to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic surgery and the risk factors affecting prognosis.

A retrospective study of patients who underwent surgery for SCP from January 2005 to December 2020 was performed. Demographic data, intraoperative variables, length of stay, and surgical complications were retrieved.

A total of 52 patients were postoperatively diagnosed with SCP. Thirty (57.69%) procedures were performed using laparoscopic surgery (group A) and 22 (42.31%) were performed using open surgery (group B). There were no significant differences between groups A and B in terms of age, sex, chronic concomitant disease, chronic constipation, incentives, imaging findings, preoperative diagnosis, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI), operation time, days to resumption of liquids, site of perforation, surgical procedures, or types of perforation ( P >0.05). The incidence of wound infection in group A was significantly lower than that in group B ( P <0.05), but there was no significant difference in the incidence of abdominal abscess between the 2 groups ( P >0.05). Significant differences were found in days to start walking and days to resumption of solids between the 2 groups ( P <0.05). Group B had a longer length of hospital stay than group A ( P <0.05). After multivariate analysis, the independent variables associated with worse perioperative complications were an age of 65 years and older, an ASA score of ≥3, and an MPI of >26.

The prognosis of SCP is poor. The operation should follow principles that are simple, rapid, and effective. If there are no contraindications, laparoscopy may be the preferred method. Hartmann procedure is a promising surgical strategy. The age, ASA score, and MPI may indicate the severity and prognosis of SCP.