[Late radiation damage in the intestine. Clinical aspects, therapy and prognosis (author's transl)].

The causes, incidence, symptoms, treatment and prognosis of late radiation damage of the intestine are reported with reference to the literature. The possibilities of elimination are discussed. From 1969 to 1979, 48 of our own patients (34 women and 14 men) were operated for radiogenic late sequelae of the intestine. 27 of these patients required emergency laparotomy. The high mortality of around 42% is essentially due to fecal peritonitis already present at the time of operation.