Surgical Treatment of Rectal Cancer in Brazzaville

Objective: To study the therapeutic aspects of rectal cancer (RC) at the Brazzaville University Hospital. Patients and method: This was a descriptive study with prospective data collection from January 2020 to June 2023. All patients followed and/or operated on for rectal cancer were included. Results: Of 2758 patients operated on during the study period, 112 were operated on for colorectal cancer, representing a hospital frequency of 4.06%. The number of patients operated on for CRC was 32, i.e. a frequency of 1.16%. The average age of patients was 56.5 ± 12.23 years, with extremes of 36 and 77 years. CR affected 17 men and 15 women, giving a sex ratio of 1.13. The procedures performed in these patients were: a near upstream colostomy (n=23; 72.2%), an abdominoperineal amputation (n=6; 18.8%) and an anterior resection of the rectum (n=3; 9.4%). Patients who underwent a near upstream colostomy presented with: acute bowel obstruction with pelvic shielding and/or peritoneal carcinosis (n=6, 18.8%), recto-vaginal fistula (n=4, 12.5%), pelvic shielding (n=3, 9.4%), bladder invasion (n=2, 6.25%), lung (n=2, 6.26%) and liver metastases (n=2, 6.26%); and peritoneal carcinosis (n=4, 12.5%). Conclusion: Cancers of the rectum are common. They are diagnosed late, hence the precariousness of management.