Anorectal function after anterior resection in patients with rectal cancer

Abstract

On patients with rectal cancer, anterior resection is performed more often than Mile's operation. Patient's satisfaction has been high but the number of patients with postoperative anorectal dysfunction has been increasing. In this investigation, on patients with rectal cancer who had received anterior resection, anorectal manometric studies were carried out to measure terminal motor latency in the pudendal and sacral nerves. The results were obtained as follows: 1) Soiling and incontinence were seen more frequently in patients with anastomosis less than 2 cm from the dentate line or in patients with lateral lymphadenectomy. 2) In patients with high anterior resection, the results of the anorectal manometric study were within the normal limits. But, in patients with low anterior resection, they were markedly abnormal. 3) Terminal motor latency in the pudendal nerve was delayed especially in patients with anastomosis less than 2 cm from the dentate line. 4) In patients with low anterior resection with lateral lymphadenectomy in particular, terminal motor latency in the sacral nerve was delayed. 5) In patients with soiling and incontinence, terminal motor latency in the pudendal and sacral nerves was delayed, in addition to the disturbances the sphincter muscles.