Incisionless Hartmann's procedure: an innovative minimal access technique for surgical treatment of sigmoid volvulus in debilitated patients with faecal incontinence.

Sigmoid volvulus requires decompression and subsequent surgical correction, and is often seen in debilitated patients. In an effort to decrease the physiological burden of surgery in these high-risk patients, we report an innovative minimal access technique for the definitive treatment of decompressed sigmoid volvulus in patients with concomitant faecal incontinence. A retrospective chart review of a series of two consecutive patients who had undergone a minimal access Hartmann's procedure (HP) between November 2005 and October 2006 was performed. A single skin incision of < or = 4 cm at the proposed colostomy site was used to identify, exteriorize, divide, and resect the redundant mesosigmoid and sigmoid colon. The same incision was used to mature the end-colostomy. No other incisions were created, and no laparoscopy or laparoscopic instruments were used. Perioperative clinical parameters and outcomes are reported. Patient 1 was a 94-year-old male, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class 4, who underwent a HP via a 4-cm skin incision under general anaesthesia in 150 min with a length of inpatient stay of 5 days. Patient 2 was an 83-year-old female, ASA class 3, who underwent a HP via a 3-cm skin incision under conscious sedation in 83 min, with a length of inpatient stay of 4 days. Estimated blood loss was <50 cm(3) for both patients, both patients had bowel function and were tolerating oral feeds upon discharge, and there was no perioperative morbidity or mortality in either patient at 30 days. Incisionless HP appears feasible in treating sigmoid volvulus and faecal incontinence in debilitated patients.