Abstract
Aim
Hartmann’s procedure is commonly performed emergently for infectious, inflammatory, or malignant processes. Most patients historically do not undergo reversal, and those who do have been found to suffer significant morbidity. The aim of this study was to study factors associated with complications after Hartmann’s reversal and to provide information and guidance to surgeons.
Method
A retrospective review of patients undergoing Hartmann’s reversal between May 2002 and October 2017 was conducted at a tertiary medical center. Data included patient characteristics at the time of surgery and intra- and postoperative complications. Chi-square test was used for categorical variables. The Wilcoxon signed rank or t test where appropriate was used for multivariate analysis.
Results
Two hundred forty-nine patients were included. Mean age at reversal was 58.8 years, and 114 (58%) were male. Sixty-two (31.8%) patients experienced a major complication following reversal. Eight (4%) patients had an anastomotic leak. Thirteen (6.67%) patients had an intra-abdominal abscess which required either IR or operative drainage. Patients who experienced a major complication were more likely to have an ASA 4 at time of reversal (14.3% vs. 4.24%, p = 0.019), liver disease (6.6% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.021), and BMI < 30 (35% vs. 17.3%, p = 0.020).
Conclusions
Nearly one-third of patients who had reversal surgery experienced a major complication. Four percent of patients undergoing reversal had an anastomotic leak, comparable to previously reported rates. Patients with ASA 4, liver disease, and BMI < 30 were at higher risk of a major complication following reversal. Patients who underwent laparoscopic reversal had no significant difference in outcomes.
Aim
What does this paper add to the literature? The decision of whether to reverse a colostomy after Hartmann’s procedure. Our study aims to identify risk factors associated with complications after Hartmann’s reversal to better guide surgeon’s facing the dilemma of whether or not to reverse the stoma.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Vermeulen J, Gosselink MP, Busschbach JJV, Lange JF (2010) Avoiding or reversing hartmann’s procedure provides improved quality of life after perforated diverticulitis. J Gastrointest Surg. 14(4):651–657
Roque-Castellano C, Marchena-Gomez J, Hemmersbach-Miller M, Acosta-Merida A, Rodriguez-Mendez A, Fariña-Castro R, Hernandez-Romero J (2007) Analysis of the factors related to the decision of restoring intestinal continuity after Hartmann’s procedure. Int J Colorectal Dis. 22(9):1091–1096
Hodgson R, An V, Stupart DA, Guest GD, Watters DAK (2016) Who gets Hartmann’s reversed in a regional centre? Surgeon. 14(4):184–189
Aydin HN, Remzi FH, Tekkis PP, Fazio VW (2005) Hartmann’s reversal is associated with high postoperative adverse events. Dis Colon Rectum. 48(11):2117–2126
Garber A, Hyman N, Osler T (2014) Complications of Hartmann takedown in a decade of preferred primary anastomosis. Am J Surg. 207(1):60–64
Haughn C, Ju B, Uchal M, Arnaud JP, Reed JF, Bergamaschi R (2008) Complication rates after Hartmann’s reversal: open vs. laparoscopic approach. Dis Colon Rectum 51(*):1232-36
Vaid S, Wallet J, Litt J, Bell T, Grim R, Ahuja V (2011) Application of a tertiary referral scoring system to predict nonreversal of Hartmann’s procedure for diverticulitis in a community hospital. Am Surg. 77(7):814–819
Milsom JW, Böhm B, Hammerhofer KA, Fazio V, Steiger E, Elson P (1998) A prospective, randomized trial comparing laparoscopic versus conventional techniques in colorectal cancer surgery: a preliminary report. J Am Coll Surg. 187(1):46–54
Stage JG, Schulze S, Møller P, Overgaard H, Andersen M, Rebsdorf-Pedersen VB et al (1997) Prospective randomized study of laparoscopic versus open colonic resection for adenocarcinoma. Br J Surg. 84(8):1174
Slawik S, Dixon AR (2008) Laparoscopic reversal of Hartmann’s rectosigmoidectomy. Color Dis. 10(1):81–83
Macpherson SC, Hansell DT, Porteous C (1996) Laparoscopic-assisted reversal of Hartmann’s procedure: a simplified technique and audit of twelve cases. J Laparoendosc Surg. 6(5):305–310
Rosen MJ, Cobb WS, Kercher KW, Sing RF, Heniford BT (2005) Laparoscopic restoration of intestinal continuity after Hartmann’s procedure. American Journal of Surgery. 189(6):670–674
Fiscon V, Portale G, Mazzeo A, Migliorini G, Frigo F (2014) Laparoscopic reversal of Hartmann’s procedure. Updates Surg. 66(4):277–281
Siddiqui MRS, Sajid MS, Baig MK (2010) Open vs laparoscopic approach for reversal of Hartmann’s procedure: a systematic review. Color Dis. 12(8):733–741
Dindo D, Demartines N, Clavien P-A (2004) Classification of surgical complications. Ann Surg 240(2):205–213
Mazeh H, Greenstein AJ, Swedish K, Nguyen SQ, Lipskar A, Weber KJ, Chin EH, Divino CM (2009) Laparoscopic and open reversal of Hartmann’s procedure - a comparative retrospective analysis. Surg Endosc Other Interv Tech. 23(3):496–502
van de Wall BJM, Draaisma WA, Schouten ES, Broeders IAMJ, Consten ECJ (2010) Conventional and laparoscopic reversal of the hartmann procedure: a review of literature. J Gastrointest Surg. 14(4):743–752
Walklett CL, Yeomans NP (2014) A retrospective case note review of laparoscopic versus open reversal of Hartmann’s procedure. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 96(7):539–542
Boland E, Hsu A, Brand MI, Saclarides TJ (2007) Hartmanns colostomy reversal: outcome of patients undergoing surgery with the intention of eliminating fecal diversion. Am Surg. 73(7):664–667
Chouillard E, Pierard T, Campbell R, Tabary N (2009) Laparoscopically assisted Hartmann’s reversal is an efficacious and efficient procedure: a case control study. Minerva Chir. 64(1):1–8
Tan WS, Lim JF, Tang CL, Eu KW (2012) Reversal of Hartmann’s procedure: experience in an Asian population. Singapore Med J. 53(1):46–51
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
1. Stewart Whitney: Substantial contributions to conception and design or acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of data; drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; final approval of the version to be published
2. Benjamin Gross: Substantial contributions to conception and design or acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of data; drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; final approval of the version to be published
3. Alex Mui: Substantial contributions to conception and design or acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of data; drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; final approval of the version to be published
4. Sue Hahn: Substantial contributions to conception and design or acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of data; drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; final approval of the version to be published
5. Blake Read: Substantial contributions to conception and design or acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of data; drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; final approval of the version to be published
6. Joel Bauer: Substantial contributions to conception and design or acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of data; drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; final approval of the version to be published
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Whitney, S., Gross, B.D., Mui, A. et al. Hartmann’s reversal: factors affecting complications and outcomes. Int J Colorectal Dis 35, 1875–1880 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-020-03653-4
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-020-03653-4