Korean J Gastrointest Endosc.  1996 Oct;16(5):793-799.

A Case of Formalin Therapy for Hemorrhagic Radiation Proctitis

Abstract

Hemorrhagic radiation proctitis is infrequently seen in patients receiving pelvic irradiation. The treatment of hemorrhagic ralation proctitis is often difficult. Many patients need reyeated hospitalizations and blood transfusions. Occasionally patiets will develop severe or recurrent rectal bleeding. In case of massive bleeding requiring excessive transfusion, colonic diversion by construction of a colostomy or excision of the diseased segment may be inevitable. However, surgical procedures in these patients are associated with a high mortality and morbidity. Moreover, medical therapy is usually ineffective. Recently formalin therapy has been introduced as a simple and effective treatment for hemorrhagic radiation proctitis. We experienced a 69 year-old woman patient who developed severe homorrhagic proctitis 1 year after radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix. She had not improved by conservative management and required blood tranafusions and repetitive hospitalizations. After local application of a 4% formalin solution in the diseased rectum under caudal anesthesia, the bleeding immediately stopped and the patient was discharged from the hospital, and no recurrence has been observed until now.

Keyword

Hemorrhagic radiation proctitis; Rectal bleeding; Formalin therapy

MeSH Terms

Aged
Anesthesia, Caudal
Blood Transfusion
Cervix Uteri
Colon
Colostomy
Female
Formaldehyde*
Hemorrhage
Hospitalization
Humans
Mortality
Proctitis*
Radiotherapy
Rectum
Recurrence
Formaldehyde
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