[Space-occupying rectal cancer. Concept of the operation and early results in 15 patients]

In 1982 and 1983, 15 patients (14 women, 1 man) suffering from large tumors of the rectum and of the rectosigmoidal junction totally filling the small pelvis, underwent operation. Depending on the extent of the tumor, 8 patients underwent a hysterectomy (53.3%), 7 a resection of the small intestine (46.6%), five a resection of part of the bladder (33.3%), three a resection of the vagina (20%), two an extirpation of the bladder (13.3%), and one each a nephrectomy, a resection of the ureter, a resection of the pelvic vein, and a resection of the abdominal wall. In two cases an ileal conduit was applied, in three an ureter splint. Hospital lethality rate was 20% (3 patients) with an average hospital stay of 53 days. After an average observation period of 18.3 months, 8 patients were still alive. The probability of surviving 12 months was 63%. - The surgical concept applied is presented.