A Profile of Colorectal Tumors Presenting as Emergency

To determine the factors, management and outcome of colorectal tumors presenting at Emergency Department, Mayo Hospital, Lahore.

Observational study.

Accident & Emergency Department, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from August 2017 to July 2019.

Conducted on 40 consecutive patients who presented in the Accident and Emergency Department, Mayo Hospital, Lahore; determined to have colon or rectal cancer as the cause of intestinal obstruction or perforation, were studied. Data was abstracted from patient charts. Studied variables included patient's demographic data, indication for admission, surgical procedure done, complications, histopathology and mortality rate.

Forty patients underwent operations of colon and rectum during the study period. Mean age at presentation was 37.8 ± 16.7 years. Intestinal obstruction (75%) was the main presenting symptom. Ascending colon was the main site involved (50%), followed by recto-sigmoid mass (15%) and rectal mass (12.5%); 80% patients subjected to the stoma formation. Electrolyte imbalance and wound infection were the most common medical and surgical complications. Adenocarcinoma was the most common tumor on histopathology (92.5%). After surgery 87.5% patients survived and 12.5% patients expired. Factors significantly associated with worse outcome were greater ASA score (p=0.004), absence of screening colonoscopy in the past (p=0.013) and postoperative medical complications (p<0.001).

Colorectal tumor cases continue to present in emergency in a high number. Male gender, young age and ascending colon cancers were more frequent among such cases. Most patients had to undergo stoma formation in emergency. Mortality is significantly associated with higher ASA score, absence of screening colonoscopy and postoperative medical complications. Key Words: Colorectal carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma, Ascending colon, Wound infection, Emergency, Young males, Screening colonoscopy, ASA score.