Role of barium enema preceding colostomy closure in trauma patients is limited and challangeable

Abstract

The prospective study comprising 50 cases was conducted in West Surgical Ward, Mayo Hospital, Lahore from January 2000 to December 2001. Majority of the patients 45(90%) were male and 5(10%) patients were female. Cause of colostomy in 28(56%) patients was firearm, stab injury in 13(26%), blunt trauma in 4(8%), rectal impalement in 3(6%) and iatrogenic injuries in 2(4%) patients. Barium enema preceding colostomy closure was advised in all patients with 98%(49 patients) negative results and 2%(1 patient) false positive results which were found negative o n further evaluation by proctoscopy/sigmoidoscopy. Gut was prepared pre-operatively by both chemical and mechanical methods. Colostomy closure was performed in 43(86%) and resection and end t o end anastomosis in 7(14%) patients. Skin was left open in all cases. Post-operative complications observed in the series were interloop abscesses in 1(2%), anastomosis narrowing in 1(2%) and urinary tract infection in 1(2%) patient. All complications were managed according to their own protocol and priority. No mortality was recorded in the study.