Abdominoperineal resection following anterior resection

A series of 11 patients undergoing abdoninoperineal resection for "suture line recurrence" following anterior resection is presented. Five-year survival is 10%. Technically, the procedure is difficult and major problems are encountered, including large blood loss and ureteral complications. These patients had an inadequate distal margin of resection at the time of anterior resection. The survival of this group of patients underscores the importance of making the correct judgment about anterior or abdominoperineal resection at the time of the initial presentation of the patient. The phrase "suture line recurrence" is a misnomer; all of these patients had advanced pelvic malignancy. If the adequacy of the distal margin is questionable or a distal margin of 5 cm cannot be obtained safely at the time of anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection should be performed, as the opportunity for cure of a recurrence should this rule be compromised is limited.