[Results of palliative operations concerning the gastrointestinal tract]

At the Surgical Clinic of the University Erlanten-Nürnber 61 per cent of the carcinoma of the oesophagus, 57 per cent of malignant tumors of the stomach and 28 per cent of all tumors of the large bowel and the rectum could not be operated radically. If there are no metastases in other organs or a wide-spread peritoneal dissemination a palliative procedure is advisable. Resection of the tumor itself has been the most effectful prodedure in cases of palliative treatment. Gastrostomies, bypass-anastomoses and protheses have been comparatively less successful. Radiation is indicated only in cases of squamoun cell-carcinoma of the oesophagus. In cases of the carcinoma of the rectum located in the middle and lower part causing a severe stenosis coagulation is an effective treatment.