PRIMARY CLOSURE AND CONTINUOUS IRRIGATION OF THE PERINEAL WOUND AFTER PROCTECTOMY

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 57  (3) , 185-188
Abstract
The success of primary closure and continuous irrigation of the perineal wound in achieving wound healing after proctectomy was assessed. The frequency and degree of primary healing (dry wound within 30 days after removal of irrigation catheters) and the factors affecting the rate of healing were determined in 152 patients undergoing proctectomy for carcinoma (31 patients), Crohn''s colitis (32 patients) or ulcerative colitis (89 patients). All patients were followed for at least 2 yr. Primary healing occurred in 64.5% of patients, whereas it was delayed (dry wound by 90 days) or failed to occur in 30.2% and 5.3%, respectively. Of those with carcinoma, 87% had healing by 30 days, whereas only 61% and 50% of those with ulcerative colitis or Crohn''s disease, respectively, had healing in that time (P < 0.02). Females had primary healing more often than males (70% vs. 45%, P < 0.01) and the incidence of persistent perineal sinus was greater in men (28%) than in women (13%) (P < 0.05). Primary healing was adversely affected in men when drains exited centrally through the wound (31% healed primarily) as opposed to when they exited laterally (65% healed primarily, P < 0.04). Primary closure with irrigation of the perineal wound apparently is safe and provides satisfactory healing in most patients.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: