Rectoscopic decompression of acute recto-sigmoid obstruction

Effective non-operative decompression of a low obstruction of the colon can sometimes be accomplished by inserting a tube into the rectum and threading the tip up to a point proximal to the obstruction (1). Failure of this non-surgical decompression would require emergency surgery--either a diverting colostomy or a two-stage resection. A new non-surgical treatment performed on a patient with an obstructive tumor of the recto-sigmoid is described. Decompression of the obstructed bowel was achieved with a rectal tube introduced over a flexible guide wire proximal to the obstruction with the aid of a rectoscope, following which a one-stage procedure--an anterior resection was performed in one patient, while the other was referred for oncological treatment.