[Clinical aspects and surgical treatment of traumatic lesions of the colon].

In a group of 71 patients with traumatic lesions of the colon 14 deaths were recorded, representing 19.7% of the total. In 27 patients with isolated colon lesions surgery successfully solved all the cases without any death. Death-rates increased when traumatic lesions of the colon were associated with those of other abdominal organs. From the etiological viewpoint the lesions of the colon were due in 45 cases to pointed weapons, in 4 cases to firearms and in 22 cases to abdominal contusion. Three patients died during surgery, in whom attempts were made far the repair of associated visceral lesions far more severe than the colon lesion. In 68 patients the following surgical interventions were made: 51 primary sutures with peritoneal drainage; 10 colectomies followed by immediate recovery of the transit (4 right hemicolectomies, 4 sigmoidectomies, 2 colectomies of the tranverse); 4 interventions of the Hartman type; one exteriorisation of the sigmoid; one suture associated with transverse caecostomy and exteriorization of the ends.