Endoscopic decompression procedure in acute obstructing colorectal cancer

In the treatment of acute obstructing colorectal cancer, a nasoenteric ileus tube is not capable of providing sufficient decompression of the enlarged intestine immediately, and it may cause the patients throat pain. We therefore assessed the effectiveness of an endoscopic decompression procedure using a transanal ileus tube for acute obstructing colorectal cancer.

Five patients (five women, mean age 62) with colorectal cancer ileus underwent endoscopic decompression procedures between July 1994 and March 1999. The stricture was first negotiated using a guide wire 300 cm in length, and was then dilated using 8 Fr and 26 Fr dilating catheters. Immediately after a transanal ileus tube 120 cm in length with an outside diameter of 22 Fr was inserted, the intestinal tract was cleaned.

No leakage from a colorectal anastomosis occurred during this endoscopic decompression procedure. Immediately after insertion of a decompression procedure tube, radical surgery could be performed after adequate preoperative examination and colorectal preparation.

This procedure may be helpful in allowing immediate preoperative examination and scheduling of a radical operation for acute obstructing colorectal disease.