INCIDENCE OF ILEUS FOLLOWING RECTAL RESEC TION IN RECTAL-CARCINOMA WITH OR 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 po stoperatively, two groups are surveyed. The first group presents patie nts undergoing adjunctive radiation therapy (n = 47), the second group did not undergo postoperative radiation therapy (n = 134). Mean follo w-up time postoperatively is 39 months. Within the irradiation group, the incidence of ileus was found to be 23% (11/47), in the non-irradia ted group 8% (11/134). Subsequent reoperations in order to clear intes tinal obstruction were performed on 4% (5/134) of non-irradiated patie nts and on 21% (10/47) of the irradiated group. Considering the increa sed risk of postoperative ileus after rectal resection for rectal carc inoma, serious reflection should be given to assessing the appropriate ness of adjunctive radiation therapy.