large bowel

Surgical Treatment

done by Dr.layth Q

Pre operative preparation

Mechanical preparation, In colonic cancer there is good evidence that there is no benefit of pre operative preparation .While rectal cancer suggest mechanical bowel preparation is still appropriate .


The antiembolic stocking ,prophylactic subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin . *single dose of proper antiembiotic to reduce wound infection and sepsis .

*In all cases where stoma seem most likely careful pre operative counselling

Operations: Designed to remove the primary tumour and draining locoregional lymph nodes .



Right hemicolectomy for right sided cancer . Extended right hemicolectomy for ca of transverse colon and splenic flexure ,to remove in addition the whole transverse colon and splenic flexure . Left hemicolectomy ,for descending colon and sigmoid cancers. Laparoscopic surgery for colonic cancer nowadays

Emergency surgery: In UK 20% of colonic cancer patients presents as emergency,the majority with obstruction .


In right sided cancer ,usually possible to do primary anastomoses during the operation of right hemicolectomy .while if there is perforation and the patient is unstable ,advisable to bring out an ileo/ colostomy rather than anastamosing bowel .


Left sided cancer,resection and anastamosis,with proximal colostomy if leaking is a possibility.But if facilities are present,an obstructing left sided lesion can be treated with an expanding metal stent.This has the advantage of converting an emergency operation with high chance of stoma to situation which can be managed semi electively with a resection and anastamosis.

PROGNOSIS: Five year survival 50%. Patients with Duke 's A ===>90% have disease free five years .( disease confined to the bowel wall.) Spread of the disease out side the bowel wall reduces five year survival to60%. Patients with lymph nodes metastasis five year survival 30%.

Colorectal cancer follow up Surveillance colonoscopy to detect synchronous and metachronous bowel tumours US,CT scan for liver metastasis CEA ( carcinoembryonic antigen