“…Saline is flushed through a tube in the caecum or ileum and drained together with colonic contents through a tube inserted proximal to the obstructing tumour (antegrade lavage) (16,17). Another method is 'surgical bowel preparation' in which the distended proximal colon is removed (subtotal colectomy), and with it all gross faecal residue (1,9,10,13,17,18). The distal colon never poses a problem as it is well decompressed with minimal if any stool distal to the obstruction.…”