Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2002;2003(3):CD002247.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002247.

Primary repair for penetrating colon injuries

Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Primary repair for penetrating colon injuries

R Nelson et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002.

Update in

Abstract

Background: Primary repair of penetrating colon injuries is an appealing management option, however uncertainty about its safety persists.

Objectives: The objective of this review was to compare the morbidity and mortality of primary repair to fecal diversion in the management of penetrating colon injuries using a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Search strategy: We searched MEDLINE (1966 to November 2001), the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and EMBASE using the terms colon, penetrating, injury, colostomy, prospective, and randomized.

Selection criteria: Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials comparing the outcomes of primary repair versus fecal diversion in the management of penetrating colon injuries. Five studies were included.

Data collection and analysis: Reviewers performed data extraction independently. Outcomes evaluated from each trial included mortality, total complications, infectious complications, intra-abdominal infections, wound complications, penetrating abdominal trauma index (PATI), and length of stay. Peto odds ratios for combined effect were calculated with a 95% confidence interval for each outcome. Heterogeneity was assessed for each outcome using a chi-squared test.

Main results: The Penetrating Abdominal Trauma Index (PATI) of included subjects did not significantly differ between studies. Mortality was not significantly different between groups (OR 1.70, 95% CI 0.51,5.66). However, total complications (OR 0.28 95% CI 0.18,0.42), total infectious complications (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.27, 0.63), abdominal infections including dehiscence (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.38,0.94), abdominal infections excluding dehiscence (OR 0.52 95% CI 0.31,0.86), wound complications including dehiscence (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.34,0.89), and wound complications excluding dehiscence (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.25,0.76) all significantly favored primary repair.

Reviewer's conclusions: Meta-analysis of currently published randomized controlled trials favors primary repair over fecal diversion for penetrating colon injuries.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

None known.

Figures

1.1
1.1. Analysis
Comparison 1 Primary Repair Mortality versus Fecal Diversion Mortality, Outcome 1 Mortality.
2.1
2.1. Analysis
Comparison 2 Primary Repair Complications versus Fecal Diversion Complications, Outcome 1 Total Complications.
2.2
2.2. Analysis
Comparison 2 Primary Repair Complications versus Fecal Diversion Complications, Outcome 2 Total Infectious Complications.
2.3
2.3. Analysis
Comparison 2 Primary Repair Complications versus Fecal Diversion Complications, Outcome 3 Abdominal Infections Including Dehiscence.
2.4
2.4. Analysis
Comparison 2 Primary Repair Complications versus Fecal Diversion Complications, Outcome 4 Abdominal Infections Excluding Dehiscence.
2.5
2.5. Analysis
Comparison 2 Primary Repair Complications versus Fecal Diversion Complications, Outcome 5 Wound Complications Including Dehiscence.
2.6
2.6. Analysis
Comparison 2 Primary Repair Complications versus Fecal Diversion Complications, Outcome 6 Wound Complications Excluding Dehiscence.
3.1
3.1. Analysis
Comparison 3 Primary Repair PATI versus Fecal Diversion PATI, Outcome 1 PATI.
4.1
4.1. Analysis
Comparison 4 Sensitivity Analyses, Outcome 1 Abdominal Infections Including Dehiscence.
4.2
4.2. Analysis
Comparison 4 Sensitivity Analyses, Outcome 2 Abdominal Infections Excluding Dehiscence.
4.3
4.3. Analysis
Comparison 4 Sensitivity Analyses, Outcome 3 Wound Complications Including Dehiscence.
4.4
4.4. Analysis
Comparison 4 Sensitivity Analyses, Outcome 4 Wound Complications Excluding Dehiscence.

References

References to studies included in this review

Chappius 1991 {published data only}
    1. Chappuis CW, Frey DJ, Dietzen CD, Panetta TP, Buechter KJ, Cohn I. Management of penetrating colon injuries: a prospective randomized trial. Annals of Surgery 1991;213(5):492‐8. - PMC - PubMed
Falcone 1992 {published data only}
    1. Falcone RE, Wanamaker SR, Santanello SA, Carey LC. Colorectal trauma: primary repair or anastomosis with intracolonic bypass vs. ostomy. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum 1992;35(10):957‐63. - PubMed
Gonzalez 2000 {published data only}
    1. Gonzalez RP, Falimirski ME, Holevar MR. Further evaluation of colostomy in penetrating colon injury. American Surgeon 2000;66(4):342‐6. - PubMed
Kamwendo 2002 {published data only}
    1. Kamwendo NY, Modivba MC, Matlala NS, Becker PJ. Randomized clinical trial to determine if delay from time of penetrating colonic injury precludes primary repair. British Journal of Surgery 2002;89(8):993‐8. [MEDLINE: ] - PubMed
Sasaki 1995 {published data only}
    1. Sasaki LS, Allaben RD, Golwala R, Mittal VK. Primary repair of colon injuries: a prospective randomized study. Journal of Trauma 1995;39(5):895‐901. - PubMed
Stone 1979 {published data only}
    1. Stone HH, Fabian TC. Management of perforating colon trauma: randomization between primary closure and exteriorization. Annals of Surgery 1979;190(4):430‐3. - PMC - PubMed

References to studies excluded from this review

Kirkpatrick 1975 {published data only}
    1. Kirkpatrick JR, Rajpal SG. The injured colon: therapeutic considerations. American Journal of Surgery 1975;129(2):187‐91. [MEDLINE: ] - PubMed

Additional references

Berne 1998
    1. Berne JD, Velmahos GC, Chan LS, Asenio JA, Demetriades D. The high morbidity of colostomy closure after trauma: further support for the primary repair of colon injuries. Surgery 1998;123(2):157‐64. - PubMed
Brasel 1999
    1. Brasel KJ, Brogstrom DC, Weigelt JA. Management of penetrating colon trauma: a cost‐utility analysis. Surgery 1999;125(5):471‐9. - PubMed
Cayten 1998
    1. Cayten CG, Fabian TC, Garcia VF, Ivatury RR, Morris JA. EAST Patient management guideline for penetrating intraperitoneal colon injuries. www.east.org 1998.
Cornwell 1998
    1. Cornwell EE, Velmahos GC, Berne TV, Chahwan S, Asensio J, Demetriades D. The fate of colonic suture lines in high‐risk trauma patients. Journal of the American College of Surgeons 1998;187(1):58‐63. - PubMed
Crass 1987
    1. Crass RA, Salbi F, Trunkey DD. Colostomy closure after colon injury: a low‐morbidity procedure. Journal of Trauma 1987;27(11):1237‐9. - PubMed
Currran 1999
    1. Curran TJ, Borzotta AP. Complications of primary repair of colon injury: literature review of 2,964 cases. American Journal of Surgery 1999;177(1):42‐7. - PubMed
Durham 1997
    1. Durham RM, Pruitt C, Moran J, Longo WE. Civilian colon trauma: Factors that predict success by primary repair. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum 1997;40(6):685‐92. - PubMed
Eshraghi 1998
    1. Eshraghi N, Mullins RJ, Mayberry JC, Brand DM, Crass RA, Trunkey DD. Surveyed opinion of American trauma surgeons in management of colon injuries. Journal of Trauma 1998;44(1):93‐7. - PubMed
George 1989
    1. George SM, Fabian TC, Voeller GR, Kudsk KA, Mangiante EC, Britt LG. Primary repair of colon wounds: A prospective trial in nonselected patients. Annals of Surgery 1989;209(6):728‐33. - PMC - PubMed
Higgins 2008
    1. Higgins JPT, Green S, editors. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Version 5.0.1 [updated September 2008]. The Cochrane Collaboration, 2008. Available from www.cochrane‐handbook.org.
Jacobson 1977
    1. Jacobson LE, Gomez GA, Broadie TA. Primary repair of 58 consecutive penetrating injuries of the colon: should colostomy be abandoned?. American Surgeon 1977;63(2):170‐7. - PubMed
Miller 1996
    1. Miller BJ, Schache DJ. Colorectal injury: where do we stand with repair. The Australian & New Zealand Journal of Surgery 1996;66(6):348‐52. [MEDLINE: ] - PubMed
Moore 1981
    1. Moore EE, Dunn EL, Moore JB, Thompson JS. Penetrating abdominal trauma index. Journal of Trauma 1981;21(6):439‐45. - PubMed
Naraynsingh 1991
    1. Naraynsingh V, Ariyananagam D, Pooran S. Primary repair of colon injuries in a developing country. British Journal of Surgery 1991;78(3):319‐20. - PubMed
Nelken 1989
    1. Nelken N, Lewis F. The influence of injury severity on complication rates after primary closure or colostomy for penetrating colon trauma. Annals of Surgery 1989;209(4):439‐47. - PMC - PubMed
Nelson 1987
    1. Nelson RL. Resection and Anastomosis. In: Nelson RL, Nyhus LM editor(s). Surgery of the Small Intestine. 1st Edition. Norwalk, Conn.: Appleton & Lange, 1987:361‐75.
Ogilvie 1944
    1. Ogilvie WH. Abdominal Wounds in the Western Desert. Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics 1944;78:225‐38.
Pachter 1990
    1. Pachter HL, Hoballah JJ, Corcoran TA, Hofstetter SR. The morbidity and financial impact of colostomy closure in trauma patients. Journal of Trauma 1990;30(12):1510‐3. - PubMed
Park 1999
    1. Park JJ, Pino A, Orsay CP, Nelson R, Pearl RK, Cintron JR, et al. Stoma complications: The Cook County Hospital experience. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum 1999;42(12):1575‐80. - PubMed
Review Manager [Computer program]
    1. The Nordic Cochrane Centre. Review Manager. Version 5.0. Copenhagen: The Cochrane Collaboration, 2008.
Shannon 1985
    1. Shannon FL, Moore EE. Primary repair of the colon: when is it a safe alternative?. Surgery 1985;98(4):851‐60. - PubMed
Sola 1993
    1. Sola JE, Bender JS, Buchman TG. Morbidity and timing of colostomy closure in trauma patients. Injury 1993;24(7):438‐40. - PubMed
Surgeon General 1943
    1. Surgeon General of the United States. Care of the wounded in theaters of operation. Circular Letter 178, Washington, DC 1943.
Thal 1980
    1. Thal ER, Yeary EC. Morbidity of colostomy closure following colon trauma. Journal of Trauma 1980;20(4):287‐91. - PubMed
Thompson 1994
    1. Thompson SG. Why sources of heterogeneity in meta‐analysis should be investigated. BMJ 1994;309(6965):1351‐5. - PMC - PubMed
Williams 1987
    1. Williams RA, Csepanyi E, Hiatt J, Wilson SE. Analysis of the morbidity, mortality, and cost of colostomy closure in traumatic compared with nontraumatic colorectal diseases. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum 1987;30(3):164‐7. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources