Management of the perineal wounds following excision of the rectum for malignancy.

In a retrospective study, 103 patients undergoing abdominoperineal resection or total proctocolectomy due to rectal adenocarcinoma or familial polyposis with malignant change in the rectum were included. The methods for treating the pelvic and perineal wounds were divided into four categories: (1) suture of the pelvic peritoneum with open drainage, (2) suture of the pelvic peritoneum and perineum with simple drainage, (3) suture of the pelvic peritoneum and perineum with suction drainage, and (4) suture of the perineum with omental pedicle graft. The parameters analyzed were incidence of perineal wound infection, primary healing of the perineum, extraperineal complications and mean hospital stay. The infective rate of the group 1 was significantly higher than for the other groups. The incidence of primary wound healing for groups 2, 3, 4 was 73%, 78%, 81% respectively compared with group 1 of 20% at one month. There was no significant difference between the various groups regarding extraperineal complications. There was no significant difference in hospital stay among groups 2, 3, 4, but they were significantly shorter than for group 1. Primary closure of the pelvic peritoneum and perineal wound with simple drainage is now adopted by us due to its low infection rate, short hospital stay and easy performance.