Wound complications are frequent after abdominoperineal resection and primary closure of the perineum. Preoperative radiation therapy doubles the rate of total and major perineal wound complications. Alternatives to primary perineal closure should be considered, particularly after radiation therapy.

The superior quality of pain relief provided by epidural analgesia had a positive impact on out-of-bed mobilization, bowel function, and intake of food, with long-lasting effects on exercise capacity and health-related quality of life.

Thoracic epidural analgesia has distinct advantages over patient-controlled analgesia morphine in providing superior quality of analgesia and shortening the duration of postoperative ileus. However, discharge home was not faster, indicating that other perioperative factors influence the length of hospital stay.

Colonoscopy can be performed safely in patients aged 80 years and older. However, the diagnostic yield is low, particularly in patients undergoing routine screening or surveillance examinations. Colonoscopy should for the most part be limited to elderly patients with symptoms or specific clinical findings.

This study was undertaken to assess the appropriate management of patients with diverticulitis complicated by fistula formation. A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients with symptoms of a fistula who presented between 1975 to 1995. There were 42 patients (32 women, 76%; 10 men, 24%) who ranged in age from 46 to 89 years (mean 69.8 +/- 9.8). Six patients had multiple fistulas. The types of fistulas included colovesical (48%), colovaginal (44%), colocutaneous (4%), colotubal (2%), and coloenteric (2%). Operative procedures consisted of resection and primary anastomosis in 38 patients and a Hartmann's operation in one. Three patients were managed conservatively with antibiotics (two due to poor performance status, the third due to resolution of symptoms). There were no operative deaths. The postoperative course was uncomplicated in 69%, while 12 patients (31%) experienced 19 complications (40%). These consisted of urinary tract infection (9.5%), atelectasis (7.1%), prolonged ileus (4.8%), arrhythmias (4.8%) and renal failure, myocardial infarction, pseudomembranous colitis, peroneal nerve palsy, unexplained fever, pulmonary edema (2.4% each). There were no anastomotic leaks and no deaths. Hospital stay ranged from 6 to 31 days (mean 12.3 +/- 7.6). Fistulas due to diverticulitis were safely managed by resection and primary anastomosis without mortality and with acceptable morbidity in this series. Patients deemed to be poor operative risks can be managed with a course of nonoperative treatment.