Search

247 elective rectal operations were performed between 1st of Jan., 1996 till 31st of Dec., 2001 in our surgical department. The observation period was divided into one 4-year and one 2-year period. 148 operations were performed in the first and 99 in the second period. In the second period some personal, methodical and technical changes occurred. Age and sex distributions were similar, and the groups were comparable. The early postoperative mortality rate decreased from 9% to 4%. Due to the double stapling technique the rate of anterior rectal resections increased from 40% to 69% and the rate of abdomino-perineal rectal extirpation decreased from 43% to 23% in the same time. Large differences were found in the rate of palliative stoma performing operations, the rate decreased from 16% to 8% in the second period, so the quality of life of the patients improved. The operative time, the length of hospital stay and the rate of blood transfusions decreased as did the rate of postoperative infections. The new quality program improved the results significantly.