[Our attitude to the so-called extended surgical procedures for colorectal carcinoma]

The authors present their experience with 29 extended operations performed on account of tumours of the sigmoid, rectosigmoid and rectum. These operations accounted for 13.4% of all operations on account of operable tumours of the colon and rectum in 1984-1988. In addition to the basic operation one organ was removed 11 times, two organs twice, three organs four times and four organs were removed en bloc twice. Complications occurred in 61% of the patients, the mortality rate was 6.9%. The authors submit an account of recent views published in the literature on the given subject with emphasis on en bloc resection, and conclude that when certain principles are respected, these extended operations are justified.