Objective：To study the effects of emergency radical resection and primary anastomosis for colorectal cancer with acute intestinal obstruction.
Methods：Retrospective investigation of the clinical data of 112 patients with colorectal cancer with acute intestinal obstruction, between Feb 1997 and Feb 2009, was made. All the 112 patient received emergency operation of radical resection and primary anastomosis.
Results：All the 112 patients recovered and were discharged. In 44 cases a right rectus abdominis incision was made, 2 of these 44 cases had incision wound infection and 6 had both incision wound infection and anastomotic leakage. A left rectus abdominis incision was made in 68 cases, and only 1 of 68 had both incision wound infection and anastomotic leakage (P＜0.05).
Conclusions：Preoperative determination of the cause and the location of intestinal obstruction, and adoption of the left rectus abdominis incision are the critical factors for success in colorectal cancer with acute intestinal obstruction treated by radical resection and primary anastomosis.