Complications following operation in the previously irradiated abdominopelvic cavity

Twenty-three patients underwent 32 operations in a previously irradiated abdominopelvic cavity. The overall postoperative morbidity rate was 62% and the mortality rate was 6.2%. The data from this series do not support small bowel bypass as the only acceptable method of management of surgical radiation enteritis. Wide resection with primary anastomosis reduces the long-term morbidity of the "blind-loop syndrome", perforation and fistulization of the isolated loop, and does not have an increased mortality.