Long - Term Low Anterior Resection Syndrome

For the last almost 30 years, the gold standard treatment for RC is low anterior resection (LAR) with total mesorectal excision (TME). Unfortunately, up to 80 % of patients undergoing LAR will suffer of bowel dysfunction including faecal urgency, frequent bowel movements, tenesmus or so called Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS). Simply it has been defined as "disordered bowel function after rectal resection, leading to a detriment in quality of life". Same year LARS score was developed. This tool is easy to use and has been internationally and in Lithuania validated. Wexner score is another tool for evaluation of faecal continence. There are only five studies investigating long-term results after rectal surgery and influence it has on patients' daily life. In one study 47 of 51 patients experienced LARS following ultra-low anterior resection after average 6.5 years. Another study recently reported major LARS in 46% of the patients with the mean median follow-up of 14.6 years. Others showed that 47.5% of patients still experience LARS symptoms at a follow-up period of 13.7 years. Just recently published study assessed bowel function 12 years in patients undergoing rectal resection with or without preventing ileostomy. Authors found that 63 (72%) patients of 87 experienced LARS symptoms with more than a half complaining of major LARS. Moreover, just last year a study published showing that 73% of patients had LARS at first follow up 5 years after the surgery. During the second visit (another 5 years later) same numbers were seen. The aim of this study was to evaluate late functional results of patients who underwent rectal resection for rectal cancer. This included calculating LARS and Wexner score and identifying possible risk factors of late postoperative bowel disorders.