[Incidence of ileus following rectum resection in rectal carcinoma with or without radiotherapy]

Between 1984 and 1989 240 patients underwent radical abdominal resection of a rectal carcinoma. Out of 201 patients surviving 12 months or more postoperatively, two groups are surveyed. The first group presents patients undergoing adjunctive radiation therapy (n = 47), while the second group did not undergo postoperative radiation therapy (n = 134). Mean follow-up time postoperatively is 39 months. Within the irradiation group, the incidence of ileus was found to be 23% (11/47), and in the non-irradiated group 8% (11/134). Subsequent reoperations in order to clear intestinal obstruction were performed on 4% (5/134) of non-irradiated patients and on 21% (10/47) of the irradiated group. Considering the increased risk of postoperative ileus after rectal resection for rectal carcinoma, serious reflection should be given to assessing the appropriateness of adjunctive radiation therapy.