Preoperative evaluation. Medical obstacles to surgery.

The primary curative therapy for colorectal cancer is surgical resection. In addition, surgery is the mainstay for palliative therapy in most patients with more advanced colorectal cancer. Medical problems may have an impact on the decisions of when to operate and what procedure to do. Postoperative morbidity and mortality are affected by preoperative medical conditions. These medical problems may be secondary to the carcinoma, such as obstruction, perforation with sepsis, or malnutrition, or may be a result of underlying disorders, especially cardiopulmonary diseases. Adequate evaluation and indicated therapeutic intervention before surgical procedures will improve the patient's outcome.