ABSTRACT
The gastrointestinal tract is frequently affected by advanced or recurrent gynecologic malignancies. Complete removal of gynecologic tumors may require gastrointestinal surgical procedures. In addition, the gastrointestinal tract is often injured during the course of treatment, requiring subsequent surgical intervention during the follow-up period, particularly after exposure to ionizing radiation. High risk factors such as malnutrition and cancer cachexia also increase the chance of a GI complication. Finally, gastrointestinal symptoms may dominate end-of-life circumstances, requiring palliative gastrointestinal procedures. This chapter focuses on common surgical procedures performed on the gastrointestinal tract during the management of gynecologic malignancies. Since gynecological oncologists are most familiar with the natural history of the underlying disease, these procedures are best done by them and not by other surgical consultants.
