[Pelvic reconstruction after abdominoperineal resection of the rectum]

Despite the advances in the treatment of cancer of the rectum and the expansion of the multimodal therapeutic technique, abdominoperineal resection (APR) still needs to be performed as radical treatment in 20-30% of cases. APR of the rectum involves a significant morbidity, including intestinal obstruction and wound complications, with radiotherapy-induced enteritis being able to develop in 15% of cases subjected to post-operative radiotherapy. Furthermore, with the aim of improving local oncology results, an extended APR is recommended; a technique that requires a perineal reconstruction technique that allows a tension free closure in a previously radiated tissue and may prevent perineal hernias developing. The objective of this article is to review pelvic and perineal repair methods after APR due to cancer, with special attention to the new prosthetic repair techniques.