Low anterior resection syndrome after surgical treatment of rectal cancer: Associated factors and correlation with the quality of life

Abstract

Background: Low anterior resection (LAR) for middle and low rectal cancer along with total meso-rectal excision (TME) was associated with decreased risk of local recurrence. Nevertheless this surgery is associated with major defecatory problems such as stool urgency, frequency, leaked gas, and incontinence referred to as the low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency and the predictive factors of LARS in patients operated for LAR, and to assess its impact on the long-term quality of life (QoL)