Primary Resection and Anastomosis of Obstructing Carcinoma of the Left Colon

ABSTRACT

Differential surgical procedures have been described on the treatment of patients with obstructing carcinoma of the left colon and rectum, and these vary from classical three stage approach to primary resection and anastomosis using intraoperative colonic irrigation or subtotal colectomy. Staged colonic prcedures are associated with significant morbidity and mortality eventhough its initial easy performance, and many patients, unfit for further surgery, are left with a permanent colostomy. We have already reported the initial results of intraoperative antegrade colonic irrigation for one-stage operation in obstructing left colorectal cancers. In this investigation, we evaluated the results of prospective trials of primary resection and anastomosis using intraoperative colon irrigation and subtotal colectomy in obstructing left colon and rectal carcinomas. During recent five years, 19 cases of obstructing left colon and rectal carcinomas which could not received regular colon preparation due to marked abdominal distension were enrolled to this study. There were 12 men and 7 women, and mean age was 61. 14 of the 19 patients which tumors located below mid-descending colon were subjected to primary resection and anastomosis using intraoperative antegrade colonic irrigation, 4 patients which tumors located above the mid-descending colon were treated with subtotal colectomy, and remaining one patient which tumor located upper rectum was performed subtotal coloectomy because of underlying colonic ischemia. There was no mortality and significant postoperative complications such as anastomotic lealrage, pelvic abscess or intraabdominal sepsis which seemed to be related with anastomotic dehiscence. Therefore, primary resection and anastomosis using intraoperative colonic irrigation or subtotal colectomy depending on tumor locations in cases of obstructing left colon and rectal carcinomas might be useful methods to obtain safe one-stage restorative colorectal resections.