[The incidence of ileus after resection for rectal cancer with and without radiotherapy].
Between 1984 and 1989 240 patients had radical abdominal resection of a rectal carcinoma. Out of 201 patients surviving 12 months or more postoperatively, two groups are surveyed. The first group presents patients undergoing adjunctive radiation therapy (n = 47), the second group did not undergo postoperative radiation therapy (n = 134). Mean follow-up time postoperatively is 39 months. Within the irradiation group, the incidence of ileus was found to be 23% (11/47), in the non-irradiated group 8% (11/134). Subsequent reoperations in order to clear intestinal obstruction were performed on 4% (5/134) of non-irradiated patients and on 21% (10/47) of the irradiated group. Considering the increased risk of postoperative ileus after rectal resection for rectal carcinoma, serious reflection should be given to assessing the appropriateness of adjunctive radiation therapy.
Chirurgische Klinik, St. Claraspital Basel.
M
M
Els
T
T
Gross
C
C
Ackermann
P
P
Tondelli
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003106:Colon / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D015182:Lymphatic Irradiation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies