Complications of Colon Surgery: Frequency and Management in the General Surgery Department of Chu Ignace Deen

iIntroduction:/i The aim was to evaluate the management of postoperative complications of colonic surgery at the Ignace DEEN University Hospital (CHU) in Conakry.i Materials and Methods:/i A two-year retrospective descriptive study (January 2023 to December 2024) conducted in the general surgery department of Ignace Deen University Hospital. All records of patients admitted and operated on in our department who presented with complications from colon surgery and those referred for colon complications after surgery in other facilities meeting our criteria were included in the study. Incomplete records were excluded. The variables analysed were sociodemographic, therapeutic and evolutionary characteristics.i Results:/i The study examined 56 cases of patients with complications from colon surgery, representing 18.48% of the departments total activity. The average age was 35 years, with extremes of 20 and 90 years. We noted a predominance of the male sex (66.07%) with a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.94. Pelvic colon volvulus was the most common initial pathology (64.28%), followed by dolichocolon (32.14%). The initial surgical procedure consisted of a left hemicolectomy with immediate restoration of colorectal digestive continuity in 47 cases (83.93%), followed by the Hartmann procedure in 7 cases (12.50%) and right hemicolectomy with immediate restoration of digestive continuity in 2 cases (3.93%). The average time to the occurrence of complications was 21 days, with extremes of 3 and 19 days. Surgical site infection was the most frequent (46.43%), followed by digestive fistula (19.64%), postoperative peritonitis (16.07%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently encountered germ (41.66%). Non-surgical treatment was carried out in more than half of our patients (58.93%), and re-laparotomy was necessary in 23 patients (41.07%). Postoperative outcomes were uncomplicated in 83.93%. The average length of stay was 30 days, with a range of 6 to 102 days.i Conclusion:/i Postoperative complications of colonic surgery are frequent and serious. Early diagnosis and appropriate management help reduce morbidity and mortality.