Experience with high-dose radiation therapy and the intestinal sling procedure in patients with rectal carcinoma

Surgery for Dukes' Stage B2 or C rectal carcinoma has a locoregional recurrence rate of 15-67%; this rate is significantly reduced when postoperative radiation therapy (RT) is given. However, RT contributes to radiation-associated small bowel injury in a dose-dependent manner.

Polyglycolic acid mesh used as an intestinal sling is able to keep the small bowel out of the pelvis during RT, thereby preventing radiation-associated small bowel injury.

The authors reviewed the perioperative experiences and acute toxic effects of RT in 53 patients in whom the polyglycolic sling was placed from May 1985 through May 1990 during laparotomy for rectal malignancies (47 primary and 6 recurrent). There were 26 men and 27 women whose ages ranged from 34 to 88 years (mean, 64.7 years). Mild postoperative ileus occurred in most patients, and one patient had an anastomotic leak with a pelvic abscess. Bowel displacement from RT portals was confirmed using radiologic contrast studies. Forty-three patients with primary tumors have completed postoperative RT, and a mean of 5174 cGy has been administered.

After 1-6 years of follow-up (mean, 2.1 years), eight patients have died of systemic disease. There were no cases of radiation-associated small bowel injury and only two cases of pelvic recurrence from primary rectal adenocarcinoma (5%).