Emergency subtotal colectomy for obstructing carcinoma of the left colon

Eight patients with obstructing carcinoma of the left colon underwent emergency subtotal colectomy and ileosigmoidostomy or ileoproctostomy. Based on the results obtained by us and those reported in the literature, it is our opinion that emergency subtotal colectomy with primary ileocolonic anastomosis should be considered as the procedure of choice for patients with obstructing carcinoma of the left colon.