Endoscopic palliative treatment of rectal cancer: our experiences with laser

<p><strong>Background:</strong> The palliative treatment of patients suffering from an incurable cancer is a common problem. In cases of advanced rectal cancer the therapeutic aims are elimination or prevention of obstruction, bleeding and pain and improvement in quality of life. T...

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Main Authors: Cvetka Pernat, Milan Pocajt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Slovenian Medical Association 2006-12-01
Series:Zdravniški Vestnik
Subjects:
Online Access:http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/2070
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author Cvetka Pernat
Milan Pocajt
author_facet Cvetka Pernat
Milan Pocajt
author_sort Cvetka Pernat
collection DOAJ
description <p><strong>Background:</strong> The palliative treatment of patients suffering from an incurable cancer is a common problem. In cases of advanced rectal cancer the therapeutic aims are elimination or prevention of obstruction, bleeding and pain and improvement in quality of life. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of laser in the endoscopic palliative treatment of rectal cancer.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods:</strong> 44 patients with inoperable rectal cancer were treated with laser from 1998 to 2005. The indication for treatment included stenosis, bleeding and/or pain.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Recanalisation and haemostasis were achieved in 37 patients (84 %). In 7 patients (16 %) we were unsuccessful. We observed 4 serious but nonfatal complications in form of rectal perforations with inflammation. None of them needed surgical attention.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Endoscopic laser therapy is an effective and well tolerated method in palliation of rectal cancer with low risk of complications.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-f04812f3af184a76bb03e7e04cf385872022-12-22T03:41:12ZengSlovenian Medical AssociationZdravniški Vestnik1318-03471581-02242006-12-017501557Endoscopic palliative treatment of rectal cancer: our experiences with laserCvetka PernatMilan Pocajt<p><strong>Background:</strong> The palliative treatment of patients suffering from an incurable cancer is a common problem. In cases of advanced rectal cancer the therapeutic aims are elimination or prevention of obstruction, bleeding and pain and improvement in quality of life. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of laser in the endoscopic palliative treatment of rectal cancer.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods:</strong> 44 patients with inoperable rectal cancer were treated with laser from 1998 to 2005. The indication for treatment included stenosis, bleeding and/or pain.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Recanalisation and haemostasis were achieved in 37 patients (84 %). In 7 patients (16 %) we were unsuccessful. We observed 4 serious but nonfatal complications in form of rectal perforations with inflammation. None of them needed surgical attention.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Endoscopic laser therapy is an effective and well tolerated method in palliation of rectal cancer with low risk of complications.</p>http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/2070rectal cancerlaser palliative treatment
spellingShingle Cvetka Pernat
Milan Pocajt
Endoscopic palliative treatment of rectal cancer: our experiences with laser
Zdravniški Vestnik
rectal cancer
laser palliative treatment
title Endoscopic palliative treatment of rectal cancer: our experiences with laser
title_full Endoscopic palliative treatment of rectal cancer: our experiences with laser
title_fullStr Endoscopic palliative treatment of rectal cancer: our experiences with laser
title_full_unstemmed Endoscopic palliative treatment of rectal cancer: our experiences with laser
title_short Endoscopic palliative treatment of rectal cancer: our experiences with laser
title_sort endoscopic palliative treatment of rectal cancer our experiences with laser
topic rectal cancer
laser palliative treatment
url http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/2070
work_keys_str_mv AT cvetkapernat endoscopicpalliativetreatmentofrectalcancerourexperienceswithlaser
AT milanpocajt endoscopicpalliativetreatmentofrectalcancerourexperienceswithlaser