Challenge in diagnosis and treatment of colonic carcinoma emergencies

Introduction: Despite advances in perioperative care and operative techniques, urgent colorectal operations are still associated with higher mortality and morbidity than elective surgery. Aim: This study was to identify the challenge in diagnosis and treatment of emergencies caused by colon carcinoma; and to assess its outcome. Material and methods: This included 59 consecutive patients treated with emergency surgical intervention for colonic carcinoma; and other 59 patients of elective colonic surgery. Results: Morbidity rates were 27.1% versus 10.2% after emergency and elective surgery. Rates of 1-, 2- and 3-year survival were 64.4%, 57.6% and 47.5% respectively after emergency surgery; and 71.2%, 62.7% and 50.8% respectively after elective surgery. Conclusions: Challenge included presentation of undiagnosed patients with difficult or impossible colon preparation, colonoscopy, tissue biopsy or tumor staging; in addition to associated diseases and/or old age. Mortality and morbidity rates after emergency surgery were higher than elective surgery. Selection of the surgical procedure was guided by the tumor staging, co-morbidities and intraoperative assessment. Emergency resection, when possible, could approximate survival of elective resection. Total colectomy could obtain good outcome and survival when compared to other emergency procedures.