[Colorectal cancer as surgical emergency]

295 out of 3014 patients (9.8%) treated for colorectal carcinoma between 01/1969 and 12/1983 presented as emergencies. The postoperative mortality rate of 28% was high in the emergency group compared with 6% after elective surgery. The tumor stage was far more advanced with 27% distant metastases. The overall 37% 5-year-survival rate was significantly different from that after elective operations (57%, p.o. deaths not included). Differences were statistically not significant when respective UICC-stages were compared.