The optimal management of large bowel obstruction remains controversial despite the extensive literature on the subject. 
Interpretation of this literature is complicated by the fact that the individual reports include heterogenous groups of patients, who have been treated in a variety of ways with little to indicate the rationale underlying the management decisions. 
Prospective gathered data are rare (24) and there has been only one, incomplete, randomized trial comparing primary bowel resection versus staged resection (53).