[Surgical treatment of lower digestive tract XXXX . Experience at the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias M  dicas y Nutrici  n Salvador Zubir  n].

@entity1 @entity360 @entity66 @entity548
BACKGROUND: Lower @entity360 is usually self-limiting in about 80% of cases; however, surgical treatment may be required in selected cases. Preoperative precise identification of the @entity548 source is crucial for a successful outcome. OBJECTIVE: To determine the most frequent diagnoses, as well as short and long-term results in a series of @entity1 who underwent a surgical procedure for lower @entity360 . MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 39 @entity1 operated upon for lower @entity360 from 1979 through 1997 in a referral center. Demographic data, history, physical examination, laboratory tests, resuscitative measures, preoperative work-up for identification of @entity548 source, definitive cause of @entity548 , surgical procedure, operative morbidity and mortality, as well as long-term status and recurrence of @entity548 were recorded. RESULTS: There were 54% @entity1 and 46% @entity1 . Mean age was 56 years (range, 15-92). Most @entity1 presented @entity360 (69%). Colonoscopy was the most used diagnostic procedure (69%). The @entity548 source was located in 90% of @entity1 . @entity66 was the most frequent cause of @entity548 . A segmental bowel resection was the treatment in 97% of cases. Morbidity was 23% with 18% of mortality. Recurrence occurred in 9% of survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Morbidity and mortality were high. @entity1 who require a surgical operation should be carefully selected and evaluated with a complete work-up to determine the site and cause of @entity548 .
