[Palliative therapy of rectal cancer by electrocoagulation]

Palliative therapy for rectal carcinoma is only indicated in selected patients who do not tolerate radical surgery or with very advanced disease. In a retrospective series the results of transanal electrocoagulation are analyzed. In addition patients or their relatives were questioned about the treatment related increase in quality of life and the wish of recurrent coagulation if needed. The main indication for transanal electrocoagulation was rectal stenosis, blood loss, discharge of mucosa and tumor as well as pain. Anal incontinence only gets better when it is due to discharge. However, transanal exposition bears the risk of worsening the incontinence. The electrocoagulation is favored by all continent patients before colostomy. The main indication for a colostomy was incontinence and fistula. Palliative irradiation was concentrated in patients with pain. In 59 operations upon 40 patients there was one rebleeding and one death due to sepsis resulting in a mortality of 1.7%. We conclude from our results that transanal electrocoagulation is a safe procedure in patients with rectal carcinoma who do not qualify for radical surgery.