Hartmann's Reversal: A Single-Centre Experience

A proctosigmoidectomy, commonly called Hartmann's procedure (HP), is the surgical resection of the rectosigmoid colon with the closure of the anorectal stump and creation of an artificial stomal opening (ostomy) on the abdomen (colostomy). It is generally performed with the intention of reversal once the underlying cause is treated. The aim of this study is to assess the predictive factors and intra-operative difficulties that might influence the decision to indicate or contra-indicate stomal reversal after HP. Patients who underwent HP between January 2010 and December 2017 were retrospectively evaluated in a single institution. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were analysed for patients who underwent HP for benign as well as malignant conditions. The reversal rate was comparable with the proportion of benign cases, consistent with published evidence that reversal rates for diverticular disease are higher as compared to colorectal cancer. Disease progression/metastasis, advanced age, multiple co-morbidities, and procedure abandonment (frozen pelvis /leak) were the most common contra-indications for reversal.