One row anastomosis in colonic operations with antibiotic prophylaxis.

Eighty-nine patients who underwent elective operations and 26 patients who underwent nonelective operations for diseases of the large intestine were studied for mortality and morbidity. In the patients who underwent elective operations, there was no anastomotic leakage or wound infection and only 1 per cent mortality. Additionally, 2 per cent nonfatal surgical complications were observed. In patients who underwent nonelective operation, a morbidity of 46.2 per cent and a mortality of 15.0 per cent were observed. Fourteen patients with acute illness were without serious complications postoperatively. All anastomoses except two were one row in elective operations without protective colostomy. All patients who underwent elective operation received antibiotic prophylaxis-a combination of cefotaxime and metronidazole.