[Indications and future of the Hartmann operation. Cooperative study of 126 cases (author's transl)]

The main indications for the Hartmann operation are cancer and sigmoiditis. It is done as an emergency in 70% of the time, more often for peritonitis, generally from diverticulitis. (45% of the time) than for occlusion usually due to cancer (30% of the time). The high mortality (33%) is due to the precarious condition of the patients, and only 25% are due to the operation, usually from disruption of the rectal stump. The reestablishment of the intestinal continuity, now facilitated by the clip forceps, was possible in 37 cases with no mortality. This represents 28.9% of the group, but only 52.1% were alive six months later. Only 6.8% of the cancer cases were benefited; however, 51% of the sigmoiditis cases and 87.5% of the cases of traumatic perforation were benefited. These results plus the advantages furnished by the autosuturing forceps justify renewal of interest in this operation first described 60 years ago.