1 May 2009Article
Functional sequelae after low anterior rectal surgery
Carlo Pala 1Fernando Serventi 1Panagiotis Paliogiannis 1Emilio Trignano 2Federico Attene 1Fabrizio Scognamillo 1Mario Trignano 1
Affiliations
Article Info
1 Istituto di Patologia Chirurgica AOU, Sassari, Italy
2 Dipartimento di Malattie Cutanee-Veneree e Chirurgia Plastica Ricostruttiva, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”, Italy
Ann. Ital. Chir., 2009, 80(3), 193-197;
Published: 1 May 2009
Copyright © 2009 Annali Italiani di Chirurgia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The treatment of colorectal cancer has changed radically in the last decades. Due to the great advances it is now often possible to subject patients to oncological radical treatments without applying to highly aggressive surgery, such as the Miles abdomino perineal resection, which requires a definitive colostomy. So nowadays we more and more apply to anterior resection of the rectum. Some recent studies about quality of life in patients who underwent anterior resection of the rectum focalized their attention on postoperative functional sequels. In particular incontinence, constipation, obstructed defecation and urgency are some of the symptoms which define the anterior resection syndrome, which can be efficiently treated by electrostimulation and biofeedback. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study on 61 patients who underwent between 2002 and 2007 anterior resection of the rectum with total mesorectal excision for adenocarcinoma, has shown symptoms of anterior resection syndrome in 14 patients. Succeeding treatment with sphincter electrostimulation and biofeedback has shown improvement in all patients and complete resolution of the anterior resection syndrome in 10 patients who showed a great compliance and a steady improvement on quality of life. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Rehabilitative treatment with electrostimulation and biofeedback can sensibly reduce symptoms of anterior resection syndrome. An accurate manometric functional assessment is necessary before starting treatment with electrostimulation and biofeedback.
Keywords
- Anterior resection of Rectum
- Biofeedback
- Electrostimulation
- Fecal incontinence