An evaluation of palliative abdominoperineal resection for carcinoma of the rectum

Thirty four patients undergoing palliative abdominoperineal resections between 1963 and 1972 were compared with 102 patients undergoing curative resections over the same period. Operative mortality and morbidity rates were identical in both groups. Palliative abdominoperineal resections were effective in all patients in initially controlling local symptoms, and in all patients, the perineal wounds healed. 58% of the patients with palliative resection survived for one year. At the end of one year, only 24% of the patients undergoing palliative abdominoperineal resection had symptoms related to a recurrence in the pelvis or perineum. For selected patients with incurable carcinoma of the rectum, a palliative abdominoperineal resection is a safe procedure, with an acceptable postoperative morbidity rate and is effective in controlling local symptoms.