[Results following colorectal interventions--an analysis over 36 years]

The data of 407 patients with colon carcinoma and 346 patients with rectum carcinoma treated in the last 36 years were analysed retro- and prospectively as regards the operative technique, the perioperative treatment and the postoperative complication rates. It was shown that the number of tumour resections increased continuously and that the percentage of deep anterior rectal resections rose since 1981. The mortality rate after tumour resections could be reduced to 1.5%. Most decisively for the improvement of the results was the introduction of a regular quality control system.