Colonic haemorrhage: a technique for rapid intra-operative bowel preparation and colonoscopy

Intraoperative colonic lavage in nonelective surgery for diverticular disease

BACKGROUND

Staged resection of the sigmoid colon has been the traditional strategy for treating patients who require nonelective surgery to manage complications of diverticular disease. Resection and primary anastomosis has not generally been recommended when the clinical setting is compromised by contiguous inflammation or inadequate mechanical cleansing of the colon because of concerns regarding the potential risk of anastomotic dehiscence. Although many reports have confirmed that intraoperative colonic lavage (ICL) is a safe method for relieving fecal loading of the colon to facilitate primary intestinal anastomosis in patients with mechanical obstruction of the distal colon, there is very limited experience with the use of this technique in treating acute inflammatory disorders of the colon. In this report, we present our results with ICL in the nonelective treatment of patients with complications of diverticulitis.

METHODS

Records of all patients undergoing urgent operations at the Lahey Clinic to treat complications of diverticular disease from July 1987 to January 1996 were reviewed.

RESULTS

Of 62 patients who required nonelective operations, 33 underwent ICL in an attempt to perform primary anastomosis. In five patients, the operation included creation of a colostomy. The indication for surgery was obstruction in 13 patients (39 percent), persistent abscess or phlegmon in 13 (39 percent), perforation in 6 patients (18 percent), and hemorrhage in 1 patient (3 percent). According to Hinchey's classification system, 18 patients had Stage I disease, 10 had Stage II, and 5 patients had Stage III disease. There were no patients with Stage IV disease. The single anastomotic complication in the series was responsible for the sole operative mortality. The morbidity rate of 42 percent, included three intraoperative complications (2 splenic injuries and 1 ureteral laceration), two intra-abdominal abscesses (6 percent), and six wound infections (18 percent).

CONCLUSION

In our experience, ICL has proven to be a safe method for accomplishing single-stage resection of the colon in selected patients with diverticulitis who require an urgent operation. When there is no evidence of diffuse purulent or feculent peritonitis, we believe this is the preferred method for treating patients who are hemodynamically stable.

Intraoperative colonoscopy

From 1987 to 1991, we performed intraoperative colonoscopy on 66 patients as a result of the following indications: the air leakage test (53%), detection of a previous malignant polypectomy site (20%), inability to complete preoperative colonoscopy (17%), detection of the source of intestinal bleeding (4%), and detection of impalpable colonic lesions (4%). Intraoperative colonoscopy was successful in 61/66 patients and provided information that altered the planned operation in 10 of 61 completely examined patients. The air leakage test proved useful in detecting subclinical anastomotic leaks. The indications for intraoperative colonoscopy have been expanded, and this procedure is often useful when one is attempting to decide on the appropriate surgical strategy for patients.

Colonic complications after toxic tribal enemas

Tribal enemas obtained from traditional healers are used widely in Southern Africa for a variety of indications. Inclusion of injurious substances such as potassium dichromate may cause serious colonic and renal complications. Nine such patients, in seven of whom chromate use was confirmed, presented after a mean delay of 7.3 days. All patients had bloody diarrhoea and vomiting and three underwent major colonic resection, requiring a total of ten procedures. One patient suffered mechanical perforation of the rectum, with subsequent necrotizing fasciitis, necessitating rectal excision. Eight patients had acute renal failure and seven required dialysis. One patient died. At follow-up one patient has chronic renal failure and only three are completely well. Although local medical practitioners are aware of the problem, the challenge of preventing harmful cultural practices remains.

Clean sweep of the colon. The use of intraoperative colonoscopy

Since 1982, intraoperative colonoscopy has been performed on 66 patients. Preoperative intent was to perform a colonoscopic polypectomy during an intra-abdominal procedure in 44 patients, localize lesions that might subsequently lead to either colon resection or colotomy and polyp excision in 13, localize bleeding sites in 4, determine the extent of inflammatory bowel disease in 2, survey the colon in 2 who did not have preoperative colon radiography, and assess bowel viability in 1. Surgery proceeded as planned in 54 patients; however, colonoscopic findings extended the resection to include additional segments of bowel in 4. In four patients, polypectomy or bowel resection was avoided as a result of the colonoscopic findings. Intraoperative colonoscopy was not possible in four patients. No complications were related directly to this procedure. Intraoperative colonoscopy is a useful adjunct for localizing lesions or "clearing" the colon. In some patients, colonoscopic findings may change the extent of resection performed.

Intraoperative endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract: clinical necessity or lack of preoperative preparation?

Intraoperative gastrointestinal endoscopy is an evolving technique that has received limited attention in the literature through case and small series reports. This literature does contain some papers in which the method was employed instead of conventional endoscopy, but, in general, intraoperative endoscopy has been effectively used as an aid to the surgeon to locate pathology not otherwise detectable and to enhance diagnosis and therapy at laparotomy. The procedure will not be required often, but when used, has the potential to be of as much service to the surgeon as a scalpel or retractor. As more surgeons are being trained in gastrointestinal endoscopy, the indications and uses will surely expand.

The place of intraoperative antegrade colonic irrigation in emergency left-sided colonic surgery

The healing of colonic or colorectal anastomoses depends, at least partially, on the volume of fecal residue. Intraoperative antegrade colonic irrigation enables the surgeon to prepare the colon adequately at the time of surgery and to perform safely an immediate resection and primary anastomosis in obstructive lesions of the left colon. Its indications have been extended to other left-sided colonic emergencies, especially perforation and hemorrhage. The technique is described in this study and its value is assessed in the light of available experimental and clinical evidence.

Management of major colonic haemorrhage

Major colonic haemorrhage remains a difficult diagnostic and therapeutic problem. We propose that those patients who continue to bleed after resuscitation are best served by immediate laparotomy. High flow antegrade irrigation and intra-operative colonoscopy can then be used to localize the site of bleeding and allow appropriate excisional surgery rather than blind colonic resection.

Peroperative lavage of the obstructed left colon to allow safe primary anastomosis

A series of 44 patients with complete or partial left-colon obstruction underwent laparotomy and intraoperative colonic lavage. Irrigation was unsuccessful in three, the operation being concluded by a Hartmann resection. In the remaining 41, the achievement of an empty colon allowed primary anastomosis after resection of the obstructing lesion. Seven patients (17.1 percent) died, none of dehiscence of the colorectal anastomosis, although minor anastomotic leaks occurred in four. The median postoperative hospital stay was 12 days. Two patients developed peritonitis (one fatal) from leakage of ileal contents when the irrigating catheter was introduced through an ileotomy and retained postoperatively, and this aspect of the technique is not recommended. The operation offers a single-stage alternative for patients with unprepared or ill-prepared bowels who require resection of left-colon lesions. The results compare favorably with the authors' previous experience of two- or three-stage resections (in-hospital mortality rate, 42 percent).