Total necrotizing colitis proximal to obstructive left colon cancer: case report and literature review

Necrotizing colitis (NC) is a rare complication of the obstructive cancer of the left colon and it is the result of intramural ischemia due to impairment of blood supply secondary to increased endoluminal pressure.

A 70 years old patient with significant comorbidities (ASA 4) was admitted for intestinal obstruction.The extensive necrosis of the entire proximal colon secondary to an obstructive sigmoid colon cancer has been diagnosed intraoperatively. Total colectomy and terminal ileostomy have been performed. The postoperative course was uneventful and the ileostomy closure with ileo-rectal anastomosis was performed 7 months later. A review of the literature discussing the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapeutic approach of this type of colitis, was performed.

NC implies diagnosis and therapeutic difficulties,especially from point of view of surgical strategy. We advocate of large colic resections, beyond the macroscopic limits of the necrosis in order to avoid the postoperative complications. We also consider seriate surgical procedures as a good choice for the high risk patients.