Intestinal occlusion caused by malignant neoplasia of the colon: surgical strategy

Malignant tumors of the large bowel become often clinically evident as an obstruction in 8-29% cases, specially the neoplasms at the splenic flexure (50%) or descending colon (25%). Different factors (urgency, age, colonic distension and lack of adequate bowel preparation) influence therapeutic choice, specially about the bowel resection and one stage anastomosis. Twenty-six patient with neoplastic stenosis of the large bowel (8 of ascending colon and proximal transverse, 5 of splenic flexure or descending colon, 12 of the sigma, 1 of the rectum) have been surgically treated. 4 patient have been subjected to right emicolectomy and ileo-transverse anastomosis; 2 to Hartman's operation; 1 to anterior resection of the rectum; 3 to left hemicolectomy and 2 to resection of the sigma with colic on table irrigation and one-stage anastomosis; 13 to colostomy; 1 to palliative ileo-colic bypass. Two patients (7.5%) died in post-operative period. In patients subjected to one-stage procedures for left colic stenosis, the Authors haven't observed major complications, but one patient developed an anastomic leakage (4%), conservative treated. In stenosis localized to ascending colon or hepatic flexure standard surgical operation is right emicolectomy. In patients affected by cancer of descending colon, the Hartmann's operation is considered the more rational procedure, even if 50% of the patients aren't reoperated on for reconstruction. The one-stage anastomosis is indicated only in selected cases, specially subjected to TPN before surgery or balancing of the metabolic parameters and to antibiotic prophylaxis. The subtotal or total colectomy is indicated when signs of colic perforation are found or when the colon is massively dilatated or there are signs of colonic necrosis or in case of other lesions of the large bowel preoperatively known.