ليث الحرباوي

Principles of colonic surgery

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Colonic anastomosis

is more liable for : disruption , leakage & peritonitis because of the followings: 1-the highly infective aerobic &anaerobic organisms in the colon.2-constant gaseous distention.3-Incomplete serous coat.4-the terminal arteries poorly connect with each other.
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Preoperative preparation for colonic surgery 

Patient counseling Improving nutritional status Bowel preparation
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In order to reduce the risk of leakage &wound sepsis:

The bowel must be empty at the time of operation The bacterial flora of the colon is reduced In elective cases the bowel is empty &clean ,so primary resection (i.e. Resection &anastomosis at the same session)
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Mechanical preparation 1- Standared preraration non-residue diet for 4 days before the operation enemas & mild laxatives 2-3 days before the operation 2- rapid preparation: is an alternative that can be performed one day before surgery by one of the following methods: a- whole gut irrigation using 2-3 L/hour of a balanced crystalloid solution passed through a nasogastric tube until the patient passes clear fluid per rectum. (This method is not used in patients with cardiac ,renal diseases &in those with partially obstructed colon)

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b-Mannitol: one liter of flavoured Mannitol is given orally or by nasogastric tube. Metachlopromide may be administered to inhibit vomiting.Chemical preparation:intestinal antiseptics administered orally help to reduce the density of colonic bacteriaCombination of Neomycin & Metronidazole (Flagyl) for 2 days will cover the gram –ve bacilli and anaerobes which are normal residents in the large intestine Prophylactic parenteral Antibiotics:To minimize septic complication following colonic surgery ,systemic antibiotics are administered immediately before surgery & are continued for 1 day postoperatively ,this is termed ''perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis'‘ and is usually a combination of Cephalosporin or an aminoglycoside with either metronidazole or clindamycin . *

Operative Procedure Resection: The extent of resection is governed by the arterial blood supply &by the disease process In radical surgery for malignant tumors ,it is essential to remove the draining lymphatics Division of the peritoneal attachments allowsadequate mobilization of the bowel on its mesentery.
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Anastomosis: For a successful anastomosis the two bowel ends should be adequatly vascularize and should be sutured without tension An intestinal anastomosis can be done in one of 2 methods: Hand suturing is commonly done in 2 layers of interrupted sutures . The first layer induces the whole wall thickness . while the second incorporates the serosa and muscle only .to invert & seal the suture line .The defect in the mesentery is closed to prevent an internal hernia . -Mechanical staplers are increasingly used ,They are faster but more coasty
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Emergency Surgery:In patients with obstruction ,,perforation ,toxic dilatation .or massive bleeding from the colon →emergency surgery may be required.In clinically ill obstructed cases ,a temporary Proximal colostomy to decompress the colon is done ,postponing resection to a later date.If the patient's condition allows resection of the diseased colon should be carried out in the course of the emergency operation ِAfter exision of the diseased segment,the surgeon is faced with a colon that is heavily loaded with stools and bacteria ,the decision for further management depends on the site of the resected part .with right colon resection ,restoration of the bowel continuity by primary anastomosis is feasible. The ilium is anastomosed to the transverse colon (ilio-transverse anastomosis) *

With emergency excision of the other parts of the colon ,primary anastomosis is avoided because of the high possibility of disrupted suture line &leakage .The options are: a-the proximal colon end is opened to the skin as a temporary colostomy .and the distal end is closed by sutures and replaced in the abdomen (Hartmann's procedure) ,both ends are opened to the skin ,the proximal one as a temporary colostomy , 2.distal one as a mucous fistula , In either case,a second operation is needed to restore bowel continuity within few weeks This second elective operation should be preceded by proper bowel preparation ..

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Intestinal stomas 

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Intestinal stomas 

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Colostomy
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Permanent colostomy

After abdomino-perineal resection. Irresectable carcinoma of the large bowel with obstruction. Incurable cases of anal incontinence. High anal fistulae that is not amenable to surgery.
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The lateral space between the exiting colon and the parietal peritoneum is closed to prevent an inter­nal hernia. The colon is fixed to the abdominal wall muscles and is then stitched to the skin.3. Caecostomy is occasionally used for temporary decompres­sion of the colon but it is not as effective as the loop colostomy. Caecostomy is done by inserting a wide bore tube into the caecum.Colostomy careA colostomy is an incontinent opening on the abdominal wall.• An iliac colostomy is easy to manage, as by time it functions once or twice a day. The patient usually uses a colostomy ap­pliance and evacuates its plastic bag when it is full .An alternative method is to wash out the colon through the colostomy once every morning. As the colostomy does not act during the rest of the day, a simple dressing is all that is neces­sary.• A transverse colostomy is wet, i.e., it discharges semi-liquid stools frequently, and, therefore, requires an appliance. *

Complications of colostomy

The following complications can occur to any colostomy but are more common after poor technique or siting of the stoma: prolapse; retraction; necrosis of the distal end; fistula formation; stenosis of the orifice; colostomy hernia; bleeding (usually from granulomas around the margin of thecolostomy); colostomy ‘diarrhea’: this is usually an infective enteritis and will respond to oral metronidazole 200 mg three times daily. *

Many of these complications require revision of the colostomy. Sometimes, this can be achieved with an incision immediately around the stoma but, on occasion, reopening the abdomen and freeing up the colostomy may be necessary. Occasionally, transfer to the opposite side of the abdomen may be necessary.
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