右半结肠癌伴肠梗阻患者的外科治疗及预后分析

目的:探讨右半结肠癌伴肠梗阻的外科治疗方法以及效果.方法:2001年8月-2008年8月87例右半结肠癌伴肠梗阻患者均接受外科手术治疗,60例患者行右半结肠切除术,并行横结肠回肠端端或端侧一期吻合术,其中累及到肝脏的行肝脏肿瘤切除术7例;27例患者行姑息性手术治疗.结果:87例患者手术后并发症发生率为19.54％ (17/87),死亡率1.15％ (1/87),1、3、5年累积存活率分别为94.1％、72.1％、43.0％.单因素分析显示,手术类型、Ducks分期、肿瘤病理类型以及手术方式是影响右半结肠癌伴肠梗阻患者术后存活率的重要因素.结论:对右半结肠癌所引起的肠梗阻的重视对早期发现、早期诊断、早期治疗右半结肠癌具有重要意义,而正确的术中操作以及围手术期的处理对改善患者的生活质量以及提高5年存活率有所裨益.     

结肠癌致急性肠梗阻35例外科治疗分析

目的:总结结肠癌致肠梗阻治疗经验。方法:回顾经手术治疗的35例结肠癌致急性肠梗阻的外科治疗资料。结果:35例病人Ⅰ期右半结肠切除7例,Ⅰ期横结肠癌切除1例,Ⅰ期左半结肠癌切除12例,Ⅱ期左半结肠切除吻合术13例,肿瘤无法切除,仅行回结肠吻合术1例,单纯造瘘1例。术后并发症发生率34％,围手术期死亡率2.8％。结论:选择合适病例、手术时机及完善围手术期处理是减少并发症,Ⅰ期切除吻合的安全保证。     

结肠癌致肠梗阻患者的外科治疗（附32例报告）

目的探讨结肠癌致肠梗阻的外科治疗方法。方法回顾分析1991—2007年32例结肠癌致肠梗阻的外科治疗资料。结果32例患者中行Ⅰ期结肠癌根治性切除肠管端端吻合术共24例，其中右半结肠切除7例，横结肠切除3例，左半结肠切除5例，乙状结肠切除9例。行左半结肠切除、横结肠造口，关闭远端结肠备Ⅱ期吻合2例；乙状结肠癌根治性切除结肠造口1例；肿瘤无法切除行结肠侧侧吻合或造口5例。术后并发症发生率21．9％（7／32），围术期死亡率3．1％（1／32）。结论重视对结肠癌致肠梗阻的认识，早期诊断，根据病情选择合理手术方式，做好围术期处理是减少术后并发症、提高疗效的重要措施。     

结直肠癌并发急性肠梗阻的外科治疗体会

为总结结直肠癌并发急性肠梗阻的外科治疗经验,吲顾分析2000年1月至2012年1月行手术治疗的72例结直肠癌并发急性肠梗阻患者资料,其中右半结肠癌30例．左半结肠癌和直肠癌42例。结果显示,30例右半结肠癌患者中,一期切除28例（一期吻合18例,二期吻合10例）,因肿瘤广泛浸润转移行肠造口1例,行短路手术1例;42例左半结肠癌和直肠癌患者中,一期切除29例（一期吻合10例,二期吻合19例）,行Hartmann术4例,因肿瘤广泛浸润转移行肠造口9例。术后切口感染4例,切口裂开1例,腹腔感染、脓肿形成3例,肺部、泌尿系统感染各1例,肾功能不全1例,心脑血管并发症2例,吻合口漏3例。围手术期死亡1例。本组患者5年生存率为26．4％（19／72）,其中一期切除者中一期吻合者5年生存率为35．7％（10／28）,二期吻合者5年生存率为31．0％（9／29）,两者差异无统计学意义,P〉0．05。结果表明,对于结直肠癌并发急性肠梗阻患者,应根据其自身情况及术中探查情况选择合理的手术时机和手术方式,做好围手术期的处理是减少术后并发症、降低病死率的关键。     

老年结肠癌合并肠梗阻外科治疗分析（附73例报告）

目的探讨老年结肠癌性梗阻手术治疗的临床疗效。方法回顾性分析我院1998年6月至2008年6月收治的73例老年结肠癌合并肠梗阻患者的外科诊治资料。结果73例均经手术治疗,痊愈71例,死亡2例（2.7%）,一期切除肿瘤67例（91.8%）。术后出现并发症22例（30.1%）。结论必要的术前准备、对术后并发症的积极防治、围手术期营养支持是提高老年结肠癌性肠梗阻患者手术成功率的重要因素。老年结肠癌并肠梗阻采用一期切除吻合是可行的。     

大肠癌致肠梗阻的外科手术治疗：附126例报告

目的: 探讨大肠癌致肠梗阻的外科手术治疗方法。 方法:回顾性分析1995年1月—2004年12月间126例大肠癌致肠梗阻外科手术治疗资料。 结果:126例患者中一期行右半结肠切除35例，一期行横结肠切除10例，一期行左半结肠切除48例，一期行左半结肠或直肠上段癌切除、近端结肠造瘘、关闭远端结肠或直肠备作二期吻合18例；肿瘤无法切除行乙状结肠或横结肠造瘘15例。术后并发症发生率13.5%（17/126），围手术期病死率4.8%（6/126）。随访统计1，3，5年生存率分别为95.1%,52.7%,38.1%。结论:重视结肠癌致肠梗阻的围手术期处理，选择合理的手术方式是提高疗效，减少并发症的重要保证。     

结直肠癌并发肠梗阻的外科治疗体会

为总结结直肠癌并发肠梗阻的外科治疗经验,回顾分析我院2002～2013年行手术治疗的96例结直肠癌并发肠梗阻的患者资料,其中DukesC、D期占84．6％;右半结肠癌42例,左半结肠癌和直肠癌54例;右半结肠癌患者中,一期切除36例（一期吻合24例,二期吻合12例）,因肿瘤广泛浸润转移行肠造口术5例,行短路手术1例;左半结肠癌和直肠癌患者中,一期切除34例（一期吻合12例,二期吻合22例）,行Hartmann术8例,因广泛肿瘤浸润转移行肠造口术12例。结果显示,术后出现并发症18例,其中切口感染5例,吻合口漏3例,切口裂开2例,肺部、腹腔、泌尿系统感染各2例,肾功能不全1例,心律失常1例;围手术期死亡1例。本组患者5年生存率为30．2％（29／96）,其中一期切除者5年生存率为34．3％（24／70）,一期切除的70例患者中一期吻合和二期吻合者的5年生存率分别为36．1％（13／36）和32．4％（11／34）,两者比较差异无统计学意义,P〉0．05。结果表明,对于结直肠癌并发肠梗阻,不但要力争手术解除肠梗阻,而且要力争一期切除肿瘤,只要做到肿瘤一期切除,吻合早晚对患者预后影响不大。具体手术方式的选择,应根据患者全身情况、术中探查情况、医院条件和医师的经验及能力综合考虑。     

结直肠癌性梗阻的外科治疗: 附108例报告

目的　探讨结直肠癌性梗阻的治疗原则。方法　回顾性分析 10年间我院收治的 10 8例结肠梗阻患者的临床资料和治疗方法 :右半结肠癌 3 0例中 2 8例行一期切除吻合 ,1例行姑息性手术 ,1例未手术。左半结肠和直肠癌 78例中行一期切除 ( 5 6例 ) (Ⅰ期或Ⅱ期吻合分别 3 2 ,2 4例 )或二期切除11例 ,6例行姑息性手术 ,5例未手术。结果　伴结肠梗阻的结直肠癌多见于Duke′sC和D期 ( 5 9例 )的中、低分化腺癌 ( 65例 )。手术并发症发生率为 2 7.3 % ( 2 6例 46例次 ) ,以感染性并发症为主 ( 3 5 /46) ,吻合口漏 4例。围手术期死亡率为 7.8%。手术治疗患者的 5年生存率为 2 8.4% ,未手术者 5年生存率为 0 % (P <0 .0 1)。肿瘤I期 ,II期切除 5年生存率分别为 3 3 .3 % ,9.0 % (P <0 .0 5 )。肿瘤一期切除后行一期 ,二期吻合手术的 5年生存率无显著性差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论　对伴结肠梗阻的结直肠癌 ,手术应及时并遵循个体化原则 ,创造条件 ,要力争一期手术切除肿瘤 ,解除梗阻 ,但切除后行I期或II期吻合对预后无影响。     

大肠癌并发急性肠梗阻的外科治疗（附62例分析）

为探讨大肠癌并发急性肠梗阻的外科治疗方法及效果．回顾性分析62例大肠癌并发急性肠梗阻行急症手术治疗的临床资料,其中右半结肠癌并梗阻23例,左半结肠癌和直肠癌并梗阻39例。结果显示,62例均行手术治疗,其中行一期切除吻合45例（右半结肠一期切除吻合16例,左半结肠一期切除吻合29例）。回横结肠吻合7例．Hartmann术4例,单纯造瘘手术2例,Miles术4例。术后发生吻合口漏2例。肺部感染3例,创口感染5例（其中切口裂开2例）,并发症发生率为19．4％。死亡2例,1例（3．2％）死于多器官功能衰竭．1例死于心力衰竭。除死亡2例外,其他病例均通过非手术治疗治愈。结果表明,结、直肠癌并发急性结肠梗阻的治疗要根据患者的全身情况和肿瘤的局部情况来进行综合判定．适应症掌握恰当,一期肿瘤切除和吻合术是安全的。     

左半结肠癌肠梗阻术中排便一期切除吻合术的临床应用

目的 探讨左半结肠癌肠梗阻术中排便一期切除吻合术的安全性和疗效.方法 回顾性总结2000年1月至2008年1月间对43例左半结肠癌合并肠梗阻患者行术中排便一期切除吻合术的临床资料,并与同期行Hartmann术的25例左半结肠癌肠梗阻患者的临床疗效进行比较.结果 两组患者在年龄、性别、营养状态、基础疾病、肿瘤部位、分期等方面差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.术中排便一期切除吻合组和Hartmann术组并发症发生率分别为25.6%和28.0%（P=0.761）;手术死亡率分别为2.3%和4.0%（P=0.369）;差异均无统计学意义.术中排便一期切除吻合组总住院时间为（16.6±7.8）d,住院费用为（50 192.8±39 727.4）元;Hartmann术组首次手术切除和二次关瘘的总住院时间为（24.6±9.4）d.两次住院费用为（58 382.1±30 304.9）元;两组比较,分别为P=0.002和P=0.020,差异有统计学意义.结论 对于左半结肠癌肠梗阻患者,术中排便一期切除吻合术疗效与Hartmann术相似,但住院时间和费用明显少于Hartmann术.     

Presentation, treatment, and multivariate analysis of risk factors for obstructive and perforative colorectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: It is known that emergency surgery for colorectal cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the presentation, treatment, and outcome of patients with complicated colorectal cancer. Risk factors for morbidity and mortality were also evaluated. METHODS: From 1991 to 2002, the medical records of 107 consecutive patients undergoing emergency surgery for obstructing or perforating colorectal carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. Information regarding patient and tumor characteristics, treatment, and outcome was recorded. Risk factors were assessed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients (78%) had complete obstruction and 24 (22%) had perforation. Overall and major complications occurred in 70% and 34%, respectively. The mortality rate was 15%. Independent risk factors for major morbidity were perioperative blood transfusion and high American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, whereas those for mortality were older age and high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency surgery for complicated colorectal carcinoma carries high rates of morbidity and mortality. To achieve improvements in outcome, intensive treatment after surgery in patients with risk factors is recommended.     

Obstructing colorectal carcinoma: outcome and risk factors for morbidity and mortality

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Emergency surgery for colorectal cancer is widely thought to be associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the operative results of patients who had emergency operations for obstructing colorectal cancer. Clinical factors that might influence the outcome were also evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study including 83 patients who underwent emergency operations for completely obstructing colorectal cancers from 1991 to 2002. Demographic, clinical, and pathological variables were examined. Their influence on major morbidity and mortality was assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The overall and major morbidity rate was 67.5 and 32.5%, respectively. Mortality was 10.8%. Univariate analysis showed that high ASA class and perioperative blood transfusion were significantly associated with major complication, whereas older age and high APACHE II were linked to mortality. Independent risk factors for major morbidity were perioperative blood transfusion and high ASA class. The only independent predictor of postoperative death was high APACHE II score. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency surgery for obstructing colorectal carcinoma carries a negative impact on outcome. Patients with risk factors should undergo safe and least risky procedures. Moreover, their presence might help in selecting patients for intensive treatment after surgery.     

Comparison of stenting with emergency surgery as palliative treatment for obstructing primary left-sided colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: Self-expanding metallic stents provide an alternative to surgery as definitive palliation in patients with obstructing colorectal cancer. This study aimed to compare the outcome of patients with obstruction due to primary left-sided colorectal cancer treated by palliative stenting with outcome in patients who had undergone surgery. METHODS: Patients with incurable obstructing primary colorectal cancer distal to the splenic flexure treated with emergency surgery (n = 31) or placement of a metallic stent (n = 30) from November 1997 to June 2002 were included. Data on the mortality, morbidity, necessity of intensive care and hospital stay for the two groups were compared. The subsequent outcomes, including the incidence of stoma creation and survival, were also analysed. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in terms of age, sex distribution and presence of co-morbidity. Insertion of metallic stents was successful in 29 of 30 patients. Hospital death occurred in four and eight patients in the study and control groups respectively (P = 0.335). Fewer patients with placement of a stent required intensive care (1 versus 11; P = 0.001) and the median hospital stay was shorter in patients with stenting (4 versus 8 days; P = 0.008). A stoma was subsequently created in four patients with stenting, whereas 15 patients who had emergency operation required a stoma (P = 0.005). The difference in median survival between the two groups was not statistically significant (107 versus 119 days; P = 0.088). CONCLUSION: Self-expanding metallic stents are effective in the palliation of obstructing colorectal cancer. Placement of stents is associated with a shorter hospital stay, less likelihood of intensive care and a lower incidence of stoma creation, when compared with emergency surgery. Thus insertion of a metallic stent should be considered in patients with incurable obstructing colorectal cancer.     

Emergency surgery for obstructing colorectal cancers: a comparison between right-sided and left-sided lesions

BACKGROUND:

Fifteen to twenty percent of patients with primary colorectal cancers present with intestinal obstruction. Traditionally, different approaches have been used in the management of right-sided and left-sided colonic obstruction. Recently, single-stage resection with primary anastomosis in left colonic obstruction has been shown to have good results. The objective of this study was to compare the operative results of patients who had emergency operations for right-sided and left-sided obstructions from primary colorectal cancers.

STUDY DESIGN:

This is a retrospective study including 243 patients who underwent emergency operations for obstructing colorectal cancers from 1989 to 1997. Primary resection of the tumor-bearing segment followed by primary anastomosis was attempted when the conditions were feasible. The operative results of patients with right-sided tumors were compared with those of patients with left-sided tumors.

RESULTS:

One hundred seven patients had obstruction at or proximal to the splenic flexure (right-sided lesions), and 136 had lesions distal to the splenic flexure (left-sided lesions). The primary resection rate was 91.8%. Of the 223 patients with primary resection, primary anastomosis was possible in 197 patients. Among the 101 primary anastomoses in patients with left-sided obstruction, segmental resection with on-table lavage was performed in 75 patients and subtotal colectomy was performed in 26. The overall operative mortality rate was 9.4%, although that of the patients with primary resection and anastomosis was 8.1%. The anastomotic leakage rate for those with primary resection and anastomosis was 6.1%. There were no differences in the mortality or leakage rates between patients with right-sided and left-sided lesions (mortality: 7.3% versus 8.9%, P = 0.79; leakage: 5.2% versus 6.9%, P = 0.77). Colocolonic anastomosis did not show a significant difference in leakage rate when compared with ileocolonic anastomosis (6.1% versus 6.0%, P = 1.0).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study showed that primary resection and anastomosis for left-sided malignant obstruction, either by segmental resection with on-table lavage or subtotal colectomy, was not more hazardous than primary anastomosis for right-sided obstruction. The single-stage procedure should be the objective for the treatment of patients with obstructing colorectal cancers, except when patients are hemodynamically unstable during surgery or when the condition of the bowel is not optimal for primary anastomosis.     

Differences between proximal and distal obstructing colonic cancer after curative surgery

Aim To study any possible differences in morbidity, mortality and overall survival rate after curative surgery for obstructive colon cancer according to tumour location. Method From January 1994 to December 2006, patients with colonic cancer presenting as obstruction were analysed. The two groups were defined as proximal and distal according to the tumour location with respect to the splenic flexure. In relation to the surgeon specialization, patients were operated on by a colorectal surgeon and by a general surgeon. Postoperative morbidity and mortality and cancer‐related survival at 3 years were analysed. Results Of the 377 patients included in the study, there were 173 patients (45.9%) in the proximal group and 204 patients (54.1%) in the distal group. The global morbidity was 54.9% without differences in postoperative morbidity except for anastomotic leakage, which was higher in the proximal group (P < 0.014). No differences in postoperative mortality were observed. After patients were stratified by the tumour node metastasis system, the differences between the groups, with respect to 3‐year overall survival, cancer‐related survival and probability of being free from recurrence, did not reach statistical significance. The overall survival after radical surgery for colonic obstruction was 57.6%. Conclusion Mortality and morbidity after emergency surgery for obstructing colon cancer are high. Specialization in colorectal surgery influences postoperative results in terms of lower anastomotic dehiscence rate after emergency proximal colon resection. After radical surgery, tumour location does not appear to influence the prognosis of obstructive colon cancer.     

Colorectal cancer surgery. Analysis of risk factors in relation to incidence of morbidity and mortality

The aim of the study was to investigate risk factors in relation to the incidence of morbidity and mortality in surgery for colorectal cancer. Between 1986-2005, 328 patients underwent colorectal cancer surgery, 308 of whom (93.9%) in elective and 20 (6.1%) in emergency surgery. Radical resection was performed in 276 (84.2%) and palliative surgery in 52 (15.8%) patients. Bivariate statistical analysis was used for morbidity and mortality factors and multivariate analysis was performed in order to find independent variables (age, gender, ASA grade, elective or emergency surgery, tumour excision, cancer stage according to Dukes) associated with dependent variable interactions. Differences were considered statistically significant for p values < 0.05. The incidences of mortality and morbidity were 0.91% and 20.1%, respectively. In our study we observed a leakage incidence of 2.74% (9/328). In emergency surgery we found morbidity and mortality rates of 20% and 10%, respectively. Age and advanced cancer stage influenced results but were not found to be statistically significant. 18.3% of patients (60/328) were ASA I, 32% (105/328) ASA II, 39.6% (130/328) ASA III and 10.1% (33/328) ASA IV. Among the independent variables observed in the multivariate analysis, ASA grade was found to be the only positive predictive factor correlated with morbidity. Logistic regression showed an exponential increase in operative risk: odds ratio (OR) 2.9 in ASA I vs ASA II, OR 4.2 in ASA I vs ASA Ill, OR 10.3 in ASA I vs ASA IV (95% confidence interval). As regards the mortality rate, none of the independent variables were found to be statistically significant risk factors (p < 0.05).     

Short‐term and long‐term outcomes of patients with malignant large bowel obstruction

Objective: The aim of the present study was to review our experience in the surgical management of patients with obstructing colorectal cancers over an 11‐year period, 1987–1997. Patients and methods: Retrospective review of case records of 275 patients (male: 177; female 98) who had undergone emergency surgery for obstructing colorectal cancers was performed. Tumours proximal to splenic flexure were defined as proximal tumours while those at or below the splenic flexure were defined as distal tumours. Results: The obstruction was caused by proximal tumours in 88 (32%) patients. The resection rate and the primary anastomotic rate were higher for proximal tumours compared with distal tumours (95.5%vs 85.6%, P = 0.014; 92%vs 30.5%, P < 0.001). For distal tumours, stoma rate was found to be influenced by the following factors: preoperative albumin level, duration of observation after admission, operating surgeons’ years of experience, bowel perforation and site of the obstructing tumour. Multivariate analysis disclosed that surgeons’ experience was the only independent factor predicting stoma formation. The in‐hospital mortality and the anastomotic leakage rates were 15.3% and 5.6%, respectively. Tumour stage was the only prognostic factor affecting the disease‐free survival after curative resection. The 5‐year disease‐free survival rates for Dukes’ B and C disease were 66% and 37.2%, respectively. Conclusions: Tumour stage was a significant prognostic factor for patients with obstructing colorectal cancers. Emergency surgery for distal tumours should preferentially be performed by more experienced surgeons in order to achieve a higher anastomotic rate.     

Colorectal cancer in nonagenarians

Aim The aim of the study was to analyze the short‐term and long‐term outcomes of nonagenarians treated for colorectal cancer. Method A retrospective analysis was performed of 74 patients, ≥ 90 years of age, diagnosed with colorectal cancer during the period 1986–2009. Comorbidity, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) grade, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, mortality, morbidity and survival were analyzed. Results Of the 74 patients, 48 (65%) were women. Twenty‐two patients were classified as ASA grade I–II, 26 as ASA grade III and 26 as ASA grade IV–V. Thirty‐one (42%) had intestinal obstruction at the time of diagnosis. Twenty‐two (30%) patients were diagnosed during the period 1986–2000 and 52 (70%) were diagnosed between 2001 and 2009. Forty‐four (59%) patients underwent surgery, of whom 19 (49%) were treated as an emergency. Eleven (25%) patients died postoperatively, with mortality rates of 12% (3/25) for elective surgery and 42% (8/19) for emergency surgery. Surgical mortality for ASA grade I and grade II patients was 5% (1/20) and their 5‐year survival rate (postoperative mortality excluded) was 44%, whereas 5‐year survival for ASA grade III patients who underwent surgery was 12.5% and surgical mortality was 25% (4/16). There were no survivors beyond 36 months among patients who did not receive surgery. Conclusion Our results indicate that elective and emergency colorectal surgery can be performed with acceptable rates of mortality and morbidity on nonagenarian patients in good general condition with low perioperative risk. The 5‐year survival rate was related to ASA grade and to the use of surgery.     

Short term outcome after emergency and elective surgery for colon cancer

Objective  Emergency presentation of colon cancer is common and associated with high mortality and morbidity following surgical treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate postoperative mortality and complications in a consecutive and population based series.
Method  All patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon diagnosed between 1993 and 2007 were registered prospectively. Postoperative mortality and complication rates in elective and emergency patients were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for postoperative complications.
Results  In the study period 1129 patients were admitted, of whom 279 (25%) presented as an emergency. A total of 999 (89%) patients underwent surgical treatment; 924 patients (82%) had a major resection. The mortality rate was 3.5% after elective and 10% after emergency operation with resection ( P  < 0.01), and the complication rate was 24% and 38% ( P  < 0.01), respectively. In patients with left-sided obstruction, the mortality rate after Hartmann's procedure was 19% compared to 3% after resection with primary anastomosis ( P  < 0.01). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that emergency operation, increasing age, advanced tumour stage and ASA class IV were independent risk factors for postoperative mortality.
Conclusion  Emergency operation for colon cancer was associated with high rates of complications and mortality, indicating that immediate surgery should be avoided if possible. Decompression of left sided obstruction with a stent seems promising, whereas no conclusion can be made with regard to optimal procedure if stent placement fails; in this study Hartmann's procedure was associated with high mortality and morbidity.     

Safety and efficacy of metallic stents in the management of colorectal obstruction.

BACKGROUND: The use of self-expandable metallic stents in the management of obstructing colorectal cancer has been described with increasing frequency in the literature. Our goal was to evaluate the efficacy and associated morbidity of the use of self-expandable metallic stents to relieve colorectal obstruction at our institution. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent colorectal stent placement between December 2001 and December 2003 in a tertiary referral center was performed. RESULTS: Stents were placed successfully in 17 of 21 patients (81%) with colorectal obstruction. Placement was achieved endoscopically in 13 patients and radiologically in 4. Ten self-expandable metallic stents were used as a bridge to surgery, and 7 were used for palliation. The obstructions were located in the sigmoid colon (11 patients), the rectosigmoid (3), the splenic flexure, the hepatic flexure, and the rectum. Malignant obstruction was noted in 14 patients. One patient with malignancy experienced a sigmoid perforation, and 2 patients with benign disease had complications (1 stent migration and 1 re-obstruction). Stent patency in obstruction secondary to colonic adenocarcinoma was 100% in our follow-up period (range, 5 to 15 months). CONCLUSIONS: The use of stents as a bridge to surgery is associated with low morbidity, allows for bowel preparation, and thus avoids the need for a temporary colostomy. Long-term patency suggests that stents may allow for the avoidance of an operation in patients with metastatic disease and further defines their role in the palliation of malignant obstruction. Further prospective randomized studies are necessary to fully elucidate the use of stents in the management of colorectal cancer.