Objective  This work aimed to study the safety and effectiveness of preoperative intestinal stent decompression combined with laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of left-sided colorectal cancer with obstruction(LCCO).

  Methods  A retrospective analysis of data from 21 LCCO patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University from March 2008 to December 2011 was conducted.Preoperative intestinal stent placement under colonoscopic guidance was performed to remove the intestinal obstruction.About 7 d to 10 d afterwards, laparoscopic radical surgery of the colorectal cancer was carried out.

  Results  Among the 21 cases studied, laparoscopic surgery was successful in 20 patients.Emergent laparotomy was conducted in 1 patient because of tumor invasion of the ureter.Operation times ranged from 180 min to 320 min, and the average time was 220 min.Recovery times of bowel function ranged from 2 d to 5 d, and the average time was 3 d.Postoperative infection of the incision occurred in 1 case.No anastomotic leakage was seen in any of the cases.

  Conclusion  Preoperative intestinal stent decompression combined with primary stage laparoscopic surgery is a safe and effective method for treating left-sided obstructive colorectal cancer.