[Usefulness of Transanal Decompression Tubes in Patients with Left-Sided Obstructive Colorectal Cancer]

The present study aimed to clarify the usefulness of the transanal decompression tube as a bridge for surgery in patients with left-sided colorectal cancer. Eight patients were recruited for this study.

We divided the patients into 2 groups: Group A included 5 patients (3 men and 2 women aged between 56 and 87 years with a mean age of 72.6 years) who underwent successful intraluminal decompression, and group B included 3 patients (3 men aged between 66 and 75 years with a mean age of 70.7 years) whose procedures were unsuccessful. We analyzed the clinical characteristics including the surgical procedure and complications, among other factors.

Decompression periods were significantly longer in group A than in group B (p=0.0113). Rectal tumors were more prevalent in group A compared to group B. There were more patients with advanced stages (Stages Ⅲa and Ⅳ) in group B than in group A, as well as patients with moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. Radical surgery was performed in all group A patients. In group B, 2 patients underwent a second operation. As for postoperative complications, adhesion ileus was found in 1 group A patient, and surgical site infection in 1 group B patient.

Patients with successful intraluminal decompression underwent radical surgery. In contrast, a second operation was performed in 1 patient with failed intraluminal decompression, while a stoma formed in another.