Surgical aspects of radiation injury to the intestine

The clinical features are described of 37 patients requiring surgical management for radiation injury to the intestine sustained as a result of treatment of abdominal or pelvic malignancy. Twenty-nine of the patients underwent operation and only 4 remained symptom-free after the procedure. Thirteen patients died in the postoperative period, and of these, 5 were free of the original disease. Possible predisposing factors in the production of intestinal injury are discussed, as are various means of dealing with the established condition.