Wolff, Bruce G.

AbstractA number of surgical methods, including use of the long intestinal tube, have been designed to decrease the incidence of recurrent small bowel obstruction. The aim of the present study was to review the indications, morbidity, and long‐term results of the long intestinal tube at the Mayo Clinic. During the 12‐year period 1981–1992, 47 patients had such tubes placed. The patients formed a complex surgical group: 46 patients had previously undergone at least one laparotomy (median 4, range 1–10); 41 patients had been hospitalized at least once for small bowel obstruction (median 3, range 1–15); and all 41 of these patients had undergone at least one previous laparotomy for obstruction (median 2, range 1–7). Eleven patients had a history of inflammatory bowel disease, and eight had a history of irradiation. In addition to dense adhesions in 46 patients, operative findings included large bowel tumors in six patients, intraperitoneal carcinomatosis in four, intraabdominal abscess in four, and small bowel stricture in three. Twenty patients required either a small bowel or large bowel resection, and three had a stoma fashioned. Only one case of morbidity (tube retraction) was related to tube placement. Among the 36 patients with complete follow‐up, nine patients developed episodes of recurrent adhesional small bowel obstruction after a mean follow‐up of 48 months, although only one required laparotomy. Of the remaining 11 patients it is known that two developed small bowel obstruction, one of whom required laparotomy. Use of the long intestinal tube has generally been reserved for surgically complex cases. In light of the diverse and complicated nature of the patients in this series, the long‐term reoperation rate for adhesional small bowel obstruction appears to be low.

AbstractMany factors have been examined in an attempt to define groups at higher risk for recurrence or recrudescence of Crohn's disease. Among these factors are age and onset of disease, gender, site of disease, number of resections, symptomatic status at the time of surgery, length of small bowel resection, fistulizing versus obstructive forms of disease, proximal margin length, microscopic margin histology, strictureplasty, and number of sites of disease, as well as the presence of colonic only disease, the presence of granulomas, blood transfusions, family history, and prophylactic treatment. To date, only proctocolectomy with Brooke ileostomy versus other procedures for colonic only disease, and prophylactic treatment have been shown with some degree of confidence to lead to a lower recurrence rate after surgery for Crohn's disease.

AbstractThe objective of this study was to determine the relation between the presence of a bullet (gunshot) after injury to the colon and the incidence of sepsis in its track and the soft tissue where it is retained. A retrospective review was carried out of the charts of consecutive patients admitted for abdominal gunshot wounds with proved colon injury during laparotomy where the bullet was either retained in the soft tissue or exited the body. The review covered a period of 4 years beginning January 1, 1990. Three groups were identified for analysis: (1) patients from whom the bullet was surgically removed, with additional cleansing and débridement of the area ( n= 21); (2) patients who did not undergo surgical removal of the bullet (n= 81); and (3) patients in whom the bullet exited spontaneously and in whom only débridement of the skin was carried out (n= 83). Similar risk factors were noted among the groups (age, ATI score, colostomy rate), except for a higher incidence of shock in group 3 (p= 0.003). The incidence of sepsis in soft tissue was least in group 1. It was five and seven times greater in groups 2 and 3, respectively. After an abdominal gunshot with colon injury, the missile should be removed if feasible and the local tissue débrided. If the bullet has exited spontaneously, its internal track must be débrided and lavaged extensively.