TUBE CECOSTOMY - AN APPRAISAL

Tube cecostomy as an elective and as an emergency surgical procedure has been reviewed. Although the number of cases in each group is small, decompression has been entirely effective with care in technic and postoperative management. In selected cases elective cecostomy is simple, rapid and safe, with very low morbidity and mortality rates. The incidence of cancer of the large bowel is increasing. A growing number of cases will be those of elderly poor-risk patients with acute obstruction which will require emergency decompression. Tube cecostomy should be in the armamentarium of all surgeons, and should be included in the surgical resident's training, with emphasis on the need for close attention to detail in the postoperative period. Decompression and subsequent preparation of the bowel for elective resection have been completely satisfactory. Morbidity is low, and no deaths in the emergency group were directly related to the cecostomy. In the cases reviewed here the five-year survival rate after emergency cecostomy for acute obstructing primary cancer of the colon followed by resection and recovery was 50 per cent. © 1969 American Proctologic Society.