Hartmann procedure

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Hartmann procedure (HP) (or proctosigmoidectomy) is an operation in which the sigmoid colon is resected and the distal colon brought out as a colostomy in the left iliac fossa. The remnant rectum stump is sewn shut. It is a quick and straightforward intervention and currently finds most favor in the emergency setting, when other perioperative factors preclude a primary colorectal anastomosis . Historically it was a lot more commonly used with a much wider set of indications.

Indications

emergent surgery
palliation: serious concurrent disease or fecal incontinence
Hinchey IV (fecal peritonitis) diverticulitis

Complications

infection of the surgical site
ileus
postoperative hemorrhage
abscess
death

History and etymology

Henri Albert Hartmann (1869-1952) originally described his eponymous procedure for the treatment of an obstructive colorectal carcinoma in 1923 .