Is damage control surgery useful in the treatment of colorectal perforation? A single-center case–control study

Colorectal perforation with systemic peritonitis requires prompt surgical attention, and damage control surgery (DCS) is performed in patients with severe injuries. This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the efficacy of DCS in patients with colonic perforation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2013 to December 2019, 131 patients with colorectal perforation underwent emergency surgery at our hospital. Among these, 95 patients required postoperative intensive care unit management and were included in this study; of these patients, 29 (31%) underwent DCS, and 66 (69%) underwent primary abdominal closure (PC). RESULTS: Patients who underwent DCS had significantly higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (23.9 [19.5–29.5] vs. 17.6 [13.7–22]; P<0.0001) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) (9 [7–11] vs. 6 [3–8]; P<0.0001) scores than did those who underwent PC. The initial operation time was significantly shorter for DCS than for PC (99 [68–112] vs. 146 [118–171]; P<0.0001). The 30-day mortality and colostomy rates were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that DCS is useful in the management of acute generalized peritonitis caused by colorectal perforation.