Usefulness of preoperative colonic lavage using transanal ileus tube for obstructing carcinoma of left colon: device to perform one-stage operation safely.

Surgical treatments for patients with obstructing carcinoma of the left colon still remain controversial, and many devices to perform a one-stage operation for such cases have been reported. The aim of the current study was to demonstrate the usefulness of preoperative colonic lavage using a transanal ileus tube to perform a one-stage operation for patients with obstructing carcinoma of the left colon. Five patients with intestinal obstruction due to advanced carcinoma of the left colon were investigated. An ileus tube was transanally inserted and placed in the colon proximal to the tumor under the guidance of a colonoscope and guidewire. Preoperative colonic lavage was done with oral administration of an irrigating solution over several days. By using a transanal ileus tube, preoperative colonic lavage can be done, which enables us to safely perform a one-stage operation for patients with obstructing carcinoma of the left colon with no increase in complications or anastomotic leakage.