Published in:
01-02-2005
Prospective, Randomized Trial Comparing Intraoperative Colonic Irrigation With Manual Decompression Only for Obstructed Left-Sided Colorectal Cancer
Published in: Diseases of the Colon & Rectum | Issue 2/2005
Login to get accessBACKGROUND
This is a prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing the outcome of intraoperative colonic irrigation with that of manual decompression for acutely obstructing colorectal cancers distal to the splenic flexure.
METHODS
All patients admitted to our department from June 1999 to August 2002 with obstructing left-sided colorectal cancers were recruited. Patients were randomized intraoperatively and were excluded if deemed unsuitable for segmental resection and primary anastomosis. Twenty-five patients were randomized to receive colonic irrigation and twenty-eight to receive manual decompression. Perioperative parameters and outcome including mortality and anastomotic leak were recorded.
RESULTS
Both groups of patients were comparable in terms of gender and age. The time taken for mobilization, decompression, and irrigation in the colonic irrigation group (median, 31 minutes) was significantly longer than that for the manual decompression group (median, 13 minutes) (P; = 0.0005). However, the total time of the operation was similar for both groups. Times for recovery of bowel function, of wound infection, and until discharge from the hospital were also similar. In the manual decompression group there were two cases of anastomotic leak (8 percent, 2/25) requiring reoperation but none (0/24) in the colonic irrigation group. However, this difference was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
Manual decompression of proximal colon without irrigation is as safe as colonic irrigation in one-stage surgical management of obstructing left-sided colorectal cancer.