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BACKGROUND/AIM The self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) is an excellent non-invasive tool for emergent bowel obstruction. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the SEMS for avoiding perioperative complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS We analyzed a total of 47 consecutive patients who had a bowel obstruction due to colorectal cancer at initial diagnosis between 2012 and 2017 from hospital records. RESULTS Perioperative complications occurred in 30% (14/47) of patients. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified an age of more than 75 years [p=0.037, OR=6.84 (95% CI=1.11-41.6)] and the absence of an SEMS treatment [p=0.028, OR=18.5 (95% CI=1.36-250.0)] as independent risk factors for perioperative complications. Pneumonia (12.7% (6/47)) was the most common complication. There were no pneumonia patients (0% (0/15)) who were treated with the SEMS. In contrast to patients with the non-SEMS treatment, 18.7% (6/32) of all patients and 35.7% (5/14) of elderly patients had pneumonia. CONCLUSION The SEMS is a safe and effective treatment for avoiding perioperative complications, particularly pneumonia, and may be a crucial strategy in elderly patients with acute obstruction due to colorectal cancer.