ObjectiveTo investigate the value of different minimally invasive surgical techniques, stent placement, laparoscopic surgery, and sustained-releasing 5-fluorouracil, in solving intestinal obstruction due to colorectal cancer. MethodsFrom May 2000 to May 2010, total 68 patients with obstructed colorectal cancers in three centers were treated in two ways in terms of the stage: The first, patients with resectable tumors underwent colorectal stent placement as a ‘bridge to surgery’ guided by enteroscope under X-ray. After clinical decompression and bowel preparation, laparoscopic radical resection was performed. The second, patients with unresectable tumors underwent rectal stent placement just for palliation. Sustained-releasing 5-fluorouracil was implanted into the local cancerous intestinal tract through stent walls. ResultsFifty-one of 52 patients underwent laparoscopic radical resection successfully following stent placement, while one failed and died during follow-up 93 d postoperatively. Forty patients with successful laparoscopic surgery were followed up in 3 to 36 months (with an average of 15 months) without tumor planting in the incision, postoperative local recurrence or anastomotic stricture. Fifteen unresectable patients and one high-risk, intolerable patient underwent rectal stent placement and implantation of sustained-releasing 5fluorouracil. During follow-up 3 to 24 months (with an average of 14 months), 11 died, who survived for (350±222) d (range 101-720 d), and 5 were still alive for 3 to 13 months (with an average of 9 months) without intestinal obstruction. ConclusionsLaparoscopic surgery combined with stent placement is an effective and safe procedure for resectable obstructed colorectal cancer. For unresectal obstructed rectal cancer, rectal stent placement combined with sustained-releasing 5-fluorouracil can prolong survival time avoiding colostomy.