Obstructing carcinoma of the left colon managed by subtotal colectomy

Obstructing carcinomas of the left colon are traditionally managed with a staged resection, as immediate colonic anastomosis is associated with a high risk of anastomotic dehiscence. We have prospectively performed total or subtotal colectomy in 18 consecutive patients presenting with obstruction at or distal to the splenic flexure. The operative mortality was 11%, which compared favourably with the results of other methods of surgical management. The procedure is safe and no cases of anastomotic dehiscence occurred. Subtotal colectomy achieves in a single procedure relief of the obstruction, tumour resection and restoration of gut continuity whilst allowing resection of synchronous lesions and eliminating the risk of metachronous tumour. Frequent liquid stool was not a significant sequel of a subtotal colectomy in this series.