[Surgical therapy of late radiation sequelae of the gastrointestinal tract].

Fifty-six operations for intestinal complications of radiation therapy were performed in 48 patients at the Second Surgical Clinic, University of Vienna between 1971 and 1985. The lesions were located in the small bowel (n = 32), the colon and rectum (n = 27) and the duodenum (n = 2). The incidence of the operations increased during the fifteen-years-period, 48.2% being performed in the last five years. 96% of the patients were females, the most frequent cause for irradiation was ovarian cancer (39.6%), followed by cervical (27%) and endometrial cancer (16.7%). 20 Patients (39.6%) had also been treated by chemotherapy. Ovarian cancer as underlying disease (56%) and chemotherapy (56%) were more frequent in small bowel lesions, than in other locations. The radiation damage presented as stenoses (n = 38), fistulas (n = 13), perforations (n = 3), one rectal ulcer and one hemorrhagic proctitis. Resection with end-to-end-anastomosis (n = 15) and bypass (n = 14) were the operations most frequently performed on the small bowel, whereas most colonic and rectal lesions were treated by colostomy alone (n = 14). The postoperative course was complicated by fistulas in 7 patients, by peritonitis in 5, by pulmonary embolism in one and duodenal ulcer perforation in another case. Six patients died postoperatively (10.7%), 5 because of peritonitis. After small bowel resection complications occurred in 4 cases, and two (13%) of the patients died. Bypass in small bowel lesions performed as well as resection: 5 complications and one death (7%) occurred. Single layer suture technique performed better than two layer anastomoses. Eighteen operations with single layer anastomoses resulted in 16.7% complications and no death.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)