A previously unreported complication of low anterior resection of the rectum, seminal vesicle-rectal fistula, was encountered one month after surgery in an elderly patient with adenocarcinoma of the midrectum. Antibiotic-induced colitis in the immediate postoperative period led to anastomotic leakage with abscess formation and ensuing fistulization to the surgically denuded right seminal vesicle. Pneumaturia, bacteriuria, and right testicular pain were treated by cutaneous vasostomy and antimicrobial therapy. Despite recurrent low-grade urinary sepsis controlled by alternating courses of various antimicrobials, and radiation therapy for local tumor recurrence, the patient remained reasonably healthy until his death two years later due to stroke associated with cerebral metastases.
Between 1970 and 1981, 348 patients underwent definitive irradiation. Of these patients 6 (1.7 per cent) sustained severe rectal injury as manifest by major rectal bleeding, rectal stricture, rectal mucosal slough and rectal ulceration. Severe rectal injury was observed in 0 of 13 patients (0 per cent) treated with 125iodine, 3 of 329 (1 per cent) treated with 6,400 to 6,800 rad external irradiation, 2 of 39 (5 per cent) treated with 7,000 to 7,300 rad external irradiation, and 1 of 7 (14 per cent) treated with 198gold and external irradiation. The impact of radiation dose, radiation therapy technique and surgical trauma was assessed. Rectal injury was managed by supportive measures in 2 patients and by diverting colostomy in 3 with benefit. One patient underwent abdominoperineal resection. A small bowel fistula and an intra-abdominal abscess developed, and the patient died.
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