Risk of recurrence after surgery for chronic radiation enteritis

Approximately one-third of patients with chronic radiation enteritis (CRE) require surgery, which is associated with a high morbidity rate and a high risk of reoperation. The aim of this study was to report outcome after surgery for CRE.

Patients with CRE who underwent operation with extensive small bowel resection between 1980 and 2009 were included in the study. Postoperative morbidity and mortality, reoperation for recurrent enteritis and risk factors for reoperation were analysed.

Of 107 patients (94 women; 87·8 per cent) with CRE included in the study, the main indication for surgery was symptomatic stricture (82 patients; 76·6 per cent). Forty-nine ileocaecal resections (45·8 per cent) were performed. Overall and surgical morbidity rates were 74·8 per cent (80 patients) and 28·0 per cent (30) respectively. Fourteen patients (13·1 per cent) underwent reoperation for complications. Reoperation rates for CRE at 1 and 3 years of follow-up were 37 and 54 per cent respectively. Risk factors for reoperation for recurrent enteritis were: emergency surgery (odds ratio (OR) 2·72, 95 per cent confidence interval 1·57 to 4·86), anastomotic leakage (OR 2·53, 1·54 to 4·42) and male sex (OR 3·57, 1·82 to 7·29). The only protective factor for reoperation was ileocaecal resection during the first surgical procedure (OR 4·48, 2·52 to 8·31).

Ileocaecal resection was the only factor that protected against reoperation for recurrent CRE, demonstrating the importance of resecting all damaged tissue in these patients. These results suggest that there is little place for intestinal bypass surgery or adhesiolysis.