Comparative study of one-stage colectomy of the descending colon in emergency and elective surgery without mechanical preparation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare one-stage colectomy of the descending colon without mechanical preparation in emergency and elective surgery.

Methods: From January 2004 to September 2009, 327 consecutive patients underwent surgery in a coloproctology unit for several conditions of the descending colon, 122 on an emergency basis and 205 as elective surgery. In the emergency surgery group, patients with septic shock, multiorgan failure, immunodeficiency or corticoid treatment, ASA IV stage, generalized fecal peritonitis (Hinchey IV stage), nonviable cecum or unresectable tumors were excluded (n = 54).