Aim: The aim of the study was to define risk factors for perineal wound complications after abdominoperineal resection (APR), with particular reference to preoperative radiotherapy.
Method: Patients undergoing APR at our institution between 1985 and 2009 were reviewed. Wound complications were classified according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention classification of surgical site infection (SSI). Perineal complications were identified in patients who had preoperative long-course radiotherapy (Group 1) and those who had surgery alone (Group 2).
Results: One hundred and fifty-seven patients met the inclusion criteria. Preoperative radiotherapy was performed in 68 (44.7%) patients (Group 1), and 89 (65.3%) patients (Group 2) underwent surgery alone. The overall rate of perineal wound complications was 14.8%. The wound infection rate was similar in each group (Group 1, 10/68, 14.7%; Group 2, 13/89, 14.9%; P = 0.9). An elevated BMI (>30) was the only factor correlated with perineal morbidity on univariate analysis (P = 0.01).
Conclusion: Preoperative radiotherapy does not influence perineal healing other than in patients with obesity.
© 2011 The Authors. Colorectal Disease © 2011 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.