[Does synchronous abdominoperineal rectum excision have real advantages?]

From January 1st, 1974 through December, 31st, 1984 a total of 421 patients with cancer of the rectosigmoid was operated upon. 269 patients (63.8%) underwent operations in which continence was maintained. In 17 of the cases the rectum was removed and the sphincter muscle was left intact. In 86 cases (=20.4%) a combined abdominoperineal rectum excision was performed (42X metachronous and 44X synchronous) in one session. The operating time involved in the synchronous method is on the average 34 min shorter than in metachronous. The mortality was reduced from 19% to 9%.