ABDOMINOPERINEAL PROCTOSIGMOIDECTOMY FOR RECTAL CANCER

Abstract

Abdominoperineal proctosigmoidectomy for rectal cancer is a surgical procedure that is frequently followed by complications. A survey of the various complications has revealed a series of important factors which have aided materially in the postoperative management of these patients. These complications do not differ greatly from other types of resections on the lower bowel. During the five year eight month period ending May 1946, 480 patients with cancer of the anus, rectum and pelvic colon were examined. Of this number 440 were operated on, a rate of operability of 91.6 per cent. Resection by various methods was performed in 390 instances, a rate of resectability of 81.2 per cent. In 251 patients the technic of abdominoperineal proctosigmoidectomy was performed with 15 deaths, a mortality rate of 5.9 per cent. The rates of survival estimated on 81 patients who were followed were 58.6 per cent for three years and 50.2 per