PALLIATIVE LASER TREATMENT OF RECTAL-CANCER

Background: Endoscopic neodymium-yttrium aluminum garnet laser treatme nt is a therapeutic modality for gastrointestinal neoplasms. Methods: Patients given palliative therapy with laser for invasive rectal cance r during 1989-93 at the Dept. of Surgery, University of Turku, were an alyzed. Results: All 20 patients (median age, 81.5 years) were unsuita ble for radical surgery owing to the poor clinical condition and/or ad vanced disease. In 14 (70%) patients laparotomy and diversion was avoi ded with laser treatment; 6 patients underwent laparotomy, 2 for pelvi c infiltration and large-bowel obstruction, 2 for rectovaginal fistula formation, and 1 for severe pain. One patient underwent abdominoperin eal resection for bleeding after laser treatment. Postoperative compli cations developed in three (15%) patients-two episodes of breeding and one of sepsis; none of these complications was fatal. Conclusions: Lo cal palliative laser treatment of rectal carcinoma is efficient in pat ients who are unsuitable for radical surgery. Operative diversion can be avoided without deaths and with minimal morbidity.