Randomized Trial of Colonic Stents as a Bridge to Surgery

Colonic-stenting and elective surgery: Emergency endoscopic colonic stenting followed by elective surgery at a later date for acute left-sided malignant colonic obstruction. Patients who had successful stenting were discharged and re-admitted for elective surgery. Patients in whom stenting was unsuccessful underwent emergency surgery. The choice of surgery performed was up to the individual consultant colorectal surgeon.

Patients underwent emergency surgery for acute left-sided malignant colonic obstruction. The choice of surgery performed was up to the individual consultant colorectal surgeon. Surgery included primary resection with or without defunctioning stoma and palliative diverting stoma only.