Acute colonic obstruction secondary to left-colonic malignancy remains a common emergency condition. Traditional management is emergency surgery and has high morbidity and mortality. Self expandable metallic stents (SEMS) promised to improve morbidity and mortality, stoma rates and hospital stay. SEMS use in the potentially curative setting, as a bridge to surgery, is associated with an improved stoma rate and morbidity, but has no mortality benefit. There are concerns about oncological safety with higher local recurrence rates, thus SEMS is not recommended in this setting unless the patient has increased surgical risk and would benefit from a period of recovery prior to surgery. SEMS has a definite role in the palliative setting, for both patients with incurable disease or those with a high surgical risk. SEMS is associated with improved morbidity, mortality, and stoma rates. The technique for SEMS insertion is now well established but it is still unclear whether covered or uncovered stents are better.
Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Recurrence ; Self Expandable Metallic Stents ; Stents*