Abstract
A study was carried out to examine the effects of different treatments for anal dysfunction following sphincter preserving operations. The treatments included pelvic floor exercises,irrigation,and drug administration.
Seventeen patients having undergone sphincter preserving operations for rectal cancer and rectal villous adenoma were divided into four groups：five using pelvic floor exercises,three using irrigation,three using pelvic floor exercises combined with irrigation,and six using drug treatments.
Pelvic floor exercises and/or irrigation therapies significantly decreased the frequency of evacuation of the bowels; （6.9±0.9 times a day before these therapies,compared with 4.2±0.9 times a day 4 weeks after these therapies and 4.3±0.7 times a day 8 weeks after these therapies）.
In conclusion,these results suggest that pelvic floor exercises and/or irrigation therapies are useful in the prevention of anal dysfunction following sphincter preserving operations.
