Retrocolic pelvic omentoplasty in abdominoperineal excision of the rectum.

A series of 53 patients underwent abdominoperineal excision of the rectum, 25 by the conventional method and 28 using retrocolic pelvic omentoplasty without drains. There were no differences in age, sex ratios, indications for surgery, stage of cancer and preoperative haemoglobin. There were no differences in the incidence of postoperative abdominal complications (wound dehiscence, obstruction and bleeding) between the two groups. However, patients undergoing omentoplasty without drainage stayed in hospital for a significantly shorter period (median of 16 days compared to 24 days) and benefited from far faster primary healing of the perineum (median of 20 days vs 133 days). It is concluded that retrocolic pelvic omentoplasty without drainage results in shortened postoperative hospital stay and promotes primary perineal healing after abdominoperineal excision of the rectum.