Aim: This study aimed to compare the results of palliative stenting with the results of emergency surgery for patients with obstructing left-sided colorectal cancer. 
Methods: Patients with inoperable obstructing left-sided colorectal cancer with self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) 
placement (group A) or emergency surgery (group B) from June 2003 to June 2005 were included. Data on the mortality, 
morbidity, necessity of intensive care and hospital stay for the two groups were compared. 
Results: Insertion of metallic stent was successful in 14 of 16 patients (87.5%). Hospital death occurred in two patients in 
group A and in 6 patients in group B. The mean hospital stay was significantly shorter in (Group A){3.3±2.3days versus 
(Group B) {15.7±10.7, p=0.0001 Table 1. The incidence of colostomy was significantly lower in (Group A) (4 patients) versus (13 patients) in (Group B), p=0.003. Twelve patients (70%) required intensive care admission after surgery, compared with only two patients (12.5%) following SEMS insertion (p=0.0001). 
Conclusion: SEMS are effective in the palliation of obstructing left-sided colorectal cancer. SEMS is associated with a 
shorter hospital stay, less likelihood of intensive care admission and lower incidence of stoma creation, when compared with emergency surgery.