[Left hemicolectomy and intraoperative antegrade lavage in emergency surgery of the left colon]

We report our results with a left colonic resection and intraoperative antegrade colonic irrigation technique with primary anastomosis. Thirty five consecutive patients operated on in the Emergency Surgical Ward are presented. Twenty five with large bowel occlusion and 10 with sigma perforation. Anastomotic leakage (2 patients, 5.7%) and postoperative hospital stay (mean 15 days) were similar to cases of elective surgery. The intraoperative antegrade colonic irrigation technique has become the first choice in our Department to treat any patient with left colonic occlusion or perforation. Only patients with faecal peritonitis or ischemic colon were excluded.