Strategies for obstructed cancers in the emergency

Tuesday, 1 December 2026, 12:30 pm

Fabian Grass

Lausanne, CH

Fabian Grass frames emergency management of obstructing colorectal cancers around rapid stabilization, careful assessment of resectability and patient fitness, and choosing an individualized strategy rather than a one-size-fits-all operation. He emphasizes balancing immediate relief of obstruction against oncologic principles, with options such as decompression, stenting, diversion, or resection with or without a damage control (2-stage) strategy selected according to the clinical and tumor context. For colorectal surgeons, the key message is to use the emergency as an opportunity for structured decision-making that preserves both short-term safety and subsequent oncologic treatment options.

About Fabian Grass

Fabian Grass is a colorectal surgeon and researcher whose work focuses on intra- and perioperative optimization strategies, also in the context of complex colorectal cancer and the decision-making challenges of emergency presentations, particularly obstructing colon cancer. His research develops a structured framework for weighing patient physiology, operative risk, and oncological goals when selecting between damage control, decompression, diversion, or resection. He aims to help colorectal surgeons make individualized, evidence-informed decisions in high-stakes emergencies while preserving both immediate safety and future oncological options.

European Colorectal Congress 2026

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