A Case of Suture Failure after Resection for Sigmoid Colon Cancer, which was Conservatively Healed with Peripheral Parenteral Nutrition and Elemental Diet

Abstract

A 54-year-old male diagnosed with sigmoid colon cancer associated with urinary bladder invasion was referred to our department. Due to invasion into the ileum, we performed a sigmoidectomy with resection of the bladder and ileum, and reconstructed the colon using end-to-end anastomosis. The pathological diagnosis was T4b, N0, H0, P0, M0, stage II. After the operation, suture complications resulted in massive emphysema. Patient elected for conservative treatment, but we were unable to insert a central venous catheter due to subcutaneous emphysema, and so implemented nutritional management using peripheral venous nutrition and elemental diet. Total parenteral nutrition is generally required as conservative treatment for colon post-operative suture failure. However, the low-residue of the elemental diet turned nutritional management into a treatment option, its wound-healing effects have been the subject of some focus in recent years.