Pelvic exenterative procedures for locally advanced or recurrent colorectal carcinoma in a community hospital.
BACKGROUND
We describe our experience with exenterative pelvic surgery for colorectal cancer in a small community hospital.


METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated 26 consecutive patients (14 women) with locally advanced (n=16) or recurrent (n=10) colorectal adenocarcinomas who underwent pelvic exenterations between August 1990 and December 2001 in our service.


RESULTS
Seventeen patients had posterior pelvic exenteration (PPE), eight had total pelvic exenteration (TPE) and one had TPE with internal hemipelvectomy. Major morbidity occurred in 12 patients (46%), causing 3 deaths (11%) in the immediate postoperative period. Fourteen of 23 patients who survived the immediate postoperative period have relapsed (61%). At a median follow-up of 42 months, the 5-year survival is 38%.


CONCLUSIONS
Pelvic exenterative procedures can be offered to patients with bulky or recurrent colorectal carcinomas with adequate results and satisfactory palliation, even in a community setting.
Vitelli
C E
CE
Division of General and Oncologic Surgery, M. G. Vannini Hospital, Via Acqua Bullicante 4, I-00177, Rome, Italy. cevitelli@tiscali.it
Crenca
F
F
Fortunato
L
L
Di Nardo
A
A
Farina
M
M
Mustacciuoli
G
G
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006428:Hemipelvectomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010385:Pelvic Exenteration / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies