Penetrating colon trauma – outcomes related to single versus multiple colonic injuries

There is no conclusive evidence to guide surgical management in the presence of multiple colonic injuries as opposed to a single colonic injury, and whether multiple colonic suture lines are associated with worse outcomes than single suture lines.

We reviewed the outcomes of penetrating colonic trauma in relation to whether patients had single versus multiple colonic suture lines (primary repair or anastomosis) following laparotomy.

A retrospective study was conducted at a major trauma centre in South Africa from 2012–2020 for all patients over 18 years who had sustained penetrating colon injury.

541 cases were included: 409 with single suture line and 54 with multiple suture lines. There were no differences between groups in terms of mechanism of injury (gunshot vs stab; p = 0.328), Injury Severity Score (p = 0.071), or Penetrating Abdominal Trauma Index (p = 0.396). Admission lactate was worse for multiple suture line patients (p = 0.049), but no other blood gas parameters were different, and there was no higher incidence of damage control surgery (p = 0.558) or ICU admission (p = 0.156) for this group. There was a higher rate of diversion in the multiple suture line group (p < 0.001). Univariable logistic regression did not show an increased risk of gastro-intestinal complications, suture line leak rate, or mortality for multiple suture lines compared to single.

It appears that there is no appreciable difference in outcome between patients with a single colonic suture line compared to patients with more than one suture line following trauma laparotomy. In light of this, each injury should be treated on its own merit, in the context of the patient’s overall physiological condition, without undue fear of leaving the patient with more than one colonic suture line. However, judicious use of diversion remains advisable.