[Peroperative lavage]

Primary bowel anastomosis was performed after an on table lavage procedure in 29 patients who required surgery for colonic lesions. 13 patients were operated in the acute or subacute stage and 16 had inadequately prepared colons at the time of elective operations. The diagnoses were cancer of the colon in 23 patients, diverticulitis in three, stoma stricture in two and colonic bleeding in one. There were 26 left-sided colonic resections, two transverse colonic resections and one right-sided hemicolectomy. The procedure prolonged the operation time by 38 min. (median), range 16-80 min. The rate of complications was 14%, and there was no mortality. None of the patients presented clinical signs of anastomotic leakage. It is concluded that primary colonic anastomosis after on table lavage is a safe and reliable alternative to staged operations. It saves the patients the discomfort of a temporary stoma and possible morbidity from further operations.