Endoscopic laser palliation for rectal cancer-- therapeutic outcome and complications in eighty-three consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE The treatment of advanced rectal cancer is still a challenge. We analysed the short-term success, treatment-related complications and the long-term outcome after laser palliation for rectal cancer. METHODS Over a ten-years period eighty-three consecutive patients (median age 81 (46-94) yrs; 43 female) were treated mainly for obstructive symptoms or tumour bleeding. Laser palliation was performed using a Neodymium:Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. RESULTS The immediate overall-success rate was 96.4 % (80 of 83 patients) and only one female received a diverting colostomy because of an inaccessible high-grade rectal stenosis, initially. During follow-up, eight additional patie…