Primary closure and healing of the perineal wound in abdominoperineal resection of the rectum for carcinoma

Abstract

Since delay in perineal wound healing in patients undergoing abdominoperineal resection has continued to be a problem, a method for improving the results in both male and female patients has been developed. Instead of the traditional open technic of dealing with perineal and deep pelvic wounds, primary closure of the perineal wound has been used in association with continuous catheter suction drainage. With this technic in conjunction with intravenous antibiotic therapy started one or two hours preoperatively, the incidence of perineal wound infection has been only 7.1 per cent, and primary wound healing has occurred in 92.9 per cent of 127 patients.