ABSTRACT

Sacral Venous Bleeding (SVB) which is a life-threatening surgical injury is a rare but serious complication of colorectal cancer surgery.

In this retrospective study, efficiency of pelvic packing procedure as damage control surgery for SVB is analyzed.

6 out of 57 rectum cancer patients undergoing 3 different types of surgery in five years time had SVB. Patients were evaluated for the parameters of bleeding control type, body temperature, duration of surgery, blood transfusion need and length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Pelvic Packing procedure was used in all cases of bleeding . Duration of surgery of the SVB patients was longer than that of the non-SVB patients and SVB patients were hypothermic with blood transfusion need exceeding 3 units and significantly longer ICU stay.

In conclusion, we can say that damage control surgery is lifesaving in SVB despite high postoperative complication rate and longer ICU stay disadvantages.