[The Hartmann type of operation]

In spite of the contemporary progresses in the field of surgical therapies, of the use of antibiotics, and of resuscitation techniques, resection of the colon with closure of the distal end and terminal colostomy, as suggested by Hartmann at the start of the century, has still some indications. Moreover, beside the original indications, this type of intervention can also be aplied in the case of some other benign lesions, and extension of the colon resection may involve other areas beside the recto-sigmoid zone. The specific indications of the intervention are the severe, very extensive and usually complicated lesions of the colon, frequently associated with a general biologic deterioration, conditions that make highly improbably the success of other surgical procedures. In a group of 28 patients (4,6 percent of the total number of cases in which interventions on the colon have been performed), of which 15 neoplasies and 13 benign lesions, the following resections have been carried out: 19 sigmoid resections, one resection of the transverse colon, 3 rectosigmoid resections, one left hemi-colectomy, 2 sub-total colectomies, 2 interventions for dehiscence of anastomoses. Considering the critical condition of the patients the high post-operative mortality appears to be easy to explain, as well as the non-lethal septic post-operative complications. In 7 patients (25 percent of the survivors) secondary restoration of the transit was carried out (4 benign lesions, and 3 cases of neoplasy). Reconversion raises some tactical and technical problems concerning the time of the intervention, the route, the attitude in front of colostomy, the mobilization of the segments and the type of anastomoses.