[Emergencies in colorectal diseases. Introduction]

The colo-rectal emergencies are caused by perforation, penetration, large bowel obstruction, haemorrhage. Various acute colonic diseases have been clearly described as basic disease (traumatic events, malformations, inflammatory stenosis or functional obstruction, diverticular disease, cancer). Due to technological progress new diagnostic and surgical procedures have been introduced. This editorial symposium's aim is to study the radiological and endoscopic diagnosis and treatment and the surgical procedures in colo-rectal emergency.