Summary
Effective non-operative decompression of a low obstruction of the colon can sometimes
be accomplished by inserting a tube into the rectum and threading the tip up to a
point proximal to the obstruction (1). Failure of this non-surgical decompression
would require emergency surgery - either a diverting colostomy or a two-stage resection.
A new non-surgical treatment performed on a patient with an obstructive tumor of the
recto-sigmoid is described. Decompression of the obstructed bowel was achieved with
a rectal tube introduced over a flexible guide wire proximal to the obstruction with
the aid of a rectoscope, following which a one-stage procedure - an anterior resection
was performed in one patient, while the other was referred for oncological treatment.
Key words:
Rectum - Rectoscope - Decompression
