Retrospective review of 76 rectal cancer operations performed in our Colorectal Unit during an 8-year period revealed that ten (13%) patients required relaporotomy because of postoperative early complications at the same hospitilization. There was no mortality due to reoperations. The indications of reoperations were anastomotic leak in three cases, hemorrhage in three cases, intestinal adhesions in three cases and abdominal wound dehiscence in one case. Out often reoperated cases, only three had preoperative radiotherapy. There were no significant difference between the irradiated and non-irradiated groups in terms of the incidence of early reoperation. This study revealed that preoperative radiotherapy did not cause an important increase in morbidity or mortality in rectal cancer
