title: Low rectal resection and anastomosis at the time of pelvic exenteration.
abstract: Twenty patients underwent a supra levator total pelvic exenteration with low rectal anastomosis for recurrent or persistent cervical carcinoma following radiotherapy. Fourteen (70%) had complete healing. Five of 9 patients with protective colostomies had complete healing while 9 of 11 without protective colostomies healed. Three of 7 patients with a rectal stump length of less than 6 cm healed while 11 of 13 whose rectal stump was 6 cm or greater experienced complete healing. Overall, 13 of the 20 patients are clinically free of disease and 8 (61%) of those enjoy life with excellent bowel continence. A low rectal anastomosis should be attempted in those patients undergoing a supralevator total pelvic exenteration.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Birmingham 35294.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hatch
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Shingleton
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010385:Pelvic Exenteration; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D013528:Surgical Staplers; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing