Colon and rectal cancer is now the third most diagnosed in the West. About 40% of cases are diagnosed after age 75, and the incidence increases with age. Mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma is a subtype of colon cancer. The effect of diet on the development of colon and rectal cancers is unclear. The clinical picture divides the colon into 2: Right-sided colon (cecum, ascending colon, hepatic flexure) versus the left-sided colon (splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid, rectosigmoid) and rectum. Arbitrarily, two-thirds of the transverse colon is on the right side. Patients are usually asymptomatic for the most part, when symptoms exist, they present as transrectal bleeding, changes in intestinal habits, anemia, or abdominal pain. In younger patients, additional factors are used to identify those at higher risk for colorectal cancer. (e.g., having a family history of colorectal cancer, changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, and blood mixed with the stool instead of blood on the surface of the stool).

Anorectal malformation, a congenital defect is usually detected at birth and managed by a multispeciality team in a tertiary care hospital. We present a case of a five day old neonate, born in a remote village in South Sudan, who presented in a critical condition to our field hospital and was managed with basic resources. A 5 day old neonate was detected with imperforate anus and presented to our hospital on day 5 with abdominal distension, severe dehydration, tachycardia and tachypnoea. Radiographic investigations revealed findings suggestive of a high ano-rectal malformation. The neonate underwent an emergency exploratory Laparotomy with diversion double barrel Colostomy in a set up catering for adult combatants. The neonate gradually improved before developing burst abdomen managed with emergency wound closure. The neonate gradually accepted breast feeds and was discharged for subsequent need for definitive surgery. This was a challenging surgery with respect to the resources available at a field hospital catering to adult combatants.