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The development of a treatment protocol for patients with chronic radiation-induced rectal bleeding
1University of Sydney Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Concord, New South Wales, Australia.
Unlabelled:
BACKGROUNDS AND METHODS: This study reviews the clinical features and reports the preliminary results of treatment of 34 consecutive patients with clinically significant bleeding from chronic, radiation-induced proctitis, using a combination of endoscopic YAG Laser and the application of topical formalin dressings to the rectal mucosa.
Results:
Bleeding ceased in 25 patients (74%); bleeding continued but occurred only slightly and occasionally in five patients (15%); and three patients required operation to control the bleeding (9%). One patient relapsed after treatment and died while receiving a further transfusion.
Conclusions:
This experience has been used to develop a management protocol for patients with this serious complication.