Antegrade intraoperative colonic lavage

Emergency left-sided colonic resections have traditionally been dealt with by employing staged resections due to the dangers of an anastomosis in unprepared bowel. A small series of 6 patients with left-sided colonic obstruction is presented in which a single stage primary anastomosis was done after an antegrade intraoperative colonic lavage. There were no deaths, infective complications or anastomotic leaks. Major series in the last decade using intraoperative colonic lavage are reviewed as well, to confirm that the method is safe, effective and warrants wider usage locally.