pelvic exenteration for men with locally advanced rectal cancer: a morbidity analysis of complicated cases

Background: The role of pelvic exenteration in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) has not been clearly defined. This procedure carries a mortality rate of approximately 10%. The challenges during pelvic surgery are different between men and women. The morbidity in men with LARC who received pelvic exenteration was analyzed. Methods: Medical records of men with LARC undergoing total pelvic exenteration or supralevator pelvic exenteration from January 1991 to December 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 23 cases were included in the analysis. Thirteen patients had primary cancer; 10 had recurrent cancer. Microscopically clear surgical margins were obtained in 14 patients (60.9%). Sixteen patients (69.6%) experienced major or minor postoperative complications. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 8.7%. Ten patients (43.5%) died within 1 year after surgery. All 10 patients with early mortality experienced refractory complications and repeated surgeries. The longest survival of patients with margin involvement was 25 months. The correlation between involved surgical margins and 1-year mortality was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Resection margins with tumor involvement after pelvic exenteration is associated with poor prognosis and early mortality in men with locally advanced rectal cancer.