Subtotal and Total Colectomy as a One-Stage Surgical Treatment for Malignant Left-Sided Colonic Obstruction

Abstract

Abstract Aim: We conducted this retrospective study in order to evaluate the short- and long-term results of Subtotal/Total Colectomy (STC/TC) and primary anastomosis for the treatment of occlusive left colon cancer. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from the medical records from general surgery clinic in January 2016 to June 2022 period. The study included patients diagnosed with acute colonic occlusion produced by tumor located from the splenic flexure to the rectosigmoid junction. Results: During the study period, 40 patients who underwent STC/TC and primary anastomosis were included in the study. According to the Clavien-Dindo grades, major complication rate was 17.5%. Seven patients (17.5%) had synchronous adenocarcinoma. Adenoma was detected in 11 of 40 patients, and 18.1% of them were reported as high-grade dysplasia. Besides, incidental low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm was reported in one patient. Ischemia and perforation of proximal colon was found in 28 cases (70%). No patient had anastomotic leak. After one year of surgery, the average defecation was two stools per day. Three-year OS was 92.3% in stage II and 68.7% in stage III. There was no survival more than three years in stage IV patients. The three-year overall disease- free survival was 90.6%. Conclusion: Treatment of obstructive left colon cancer using STC/TC and primary anastomosis is a confident method resulting in a good bowel function. The method allows the resection of synchronous tumors. Besides, it removes the proximal colon with ischemic lesions, serosal tears and filled with stool.