Studies on Ano-Rectal Function After Low Anterior Resection

Abstract

Manometric and radiologic studies were carried out in 15 patients who underwent low anterior resection for carcinoma of the rectum, or the sigmoid colon. Twenty-four normal adults were also subjected to the studies as control.
Most of the postoperative patients suffered from frequent bowel movements and occasional soiling within 4 to 6 months after the operation, but all the patients achieved good control of bowel movements by the sixth postperative month.
Manometric and radiologic studies in these patients disclosed that : 1) There was no significant changes of resting pressure profile, but decreased basal rhythmic contraction of the anal canal, in the postoperative patients. 2) Normal recto-anal reflex was present in all the postoperative patients. Low rectal compliance was characteristic of the postoperative patients. Decrease of rectal compliance was significant in those within 6 months after the operation. 4) Rectal distending. volume initiating recto-anal reflex or desire to defecate was significantly small in the postoperative patients, whereas there was no significant difference of rectal distending pressure initiating recto-anal reflex or desire to defecate between normal adults and the postoperative patients. 5) There was no significant difference of the rectal area on the lateral view of barium enema films between the early postoperative patients with disturbed bowel control and those who established good control of bowel movements.