[Retrospective study of emergent surgery on the left colon]

From 1976 to 1988, 123 emergency left colon procedures were carried out. 79 were single-step procedures, 34 were two-step and 10 were three-step. The presence or not of peritonitis was not systematically taken into consideration for procedure choice. Two of the 79 single-step patients presented an anastomosis leakage repair. Three of seven patients with postoperative peritonitis required reoperation for abscess formation. These figures are not significantly higher than those encountered in the two- or three-step procedure groups. As it was, one of these patients required a reintervention for fistula excision, as well as upper stomy trouble. In summary, we can say that emergency left colon resection with anastomosis without protective stomy is preferable with associated adequate antibiotherapy.