It was used to treat colon cancer or inflammation (proctosigmoiditis, proctitis, diverticulitis, volvulus, etc.).

Currently, its use is limited to emergency surgery when immediate anastomosis is not possible, or more rarely it is used palliatively in patients with colorectal tumours.

[1] The Hartmann's procedure with a proximal end colostomy or ileostomy is the most common operation carried out by general surgeons for management of malignant obstruction of the distal colon.

One study showed no statistically significant difference in morbidity or mortality between laparoscopic versus open Hartmann procedure.

[5] The original two-paragraph article in French together with an English translation by Thomas Pézier[6] and a modern commentary is available.