Palliative resection for colorectal carinoma

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Abstract
In an attempt to identify those patients who would benefit from palliative resection of the colon or rectum and those who would not, an analysis of 10 yr of resections was undertaken. For the 81 patients who underwent palliative resection, the operative mortality was 10% and the postoperative morbidity was 50%. The mean survival was 11.4 mo. and the median survival 9 mo. Poor prognostic factors deduced were patients with extensive liver metastases, those over the age of 75 yr and a previous history of cardiovascular disease. Patients with a combination of these factors may not benefit from palliative resection. Resections satisfactorily relieve patients of the symptoms of impending obstruction and rectal bleeding and are, therefore, believed to be worthwhile.