Muttillo EM, La Franca A, Coppola A, Li Causi FS, Checchelani M, Ceccacci A, Castagnola G, Garbarino GM, Osti MF, Balducci G, Mercantini P. Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) after Surgery for Rectal Cancer: An Inevitable Price to Pay for Survival, or a Preventable Complication?
J Clin Med 2023;
12:5962. [PMID:
37762904 PMCID:
PMC10532021 DOI:
10.3390/jcm12185962]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Rectal cancer is frequent and often treated with sphincter-saving procedures that may cause LARS, a syndrome characterized by symptoms of bowel disfunction that may severely affect quality of life. LARS is common, but its pathogenesis is mostly unknown. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence of LARS and to identify potential risk factors.
METHODS
We performed an observational retrospective single center analysis. The following data were collected and analyzed for each patient: demographics, tumor-related data, and intra- and peri-operative data. Statistical analysis was conducted, including descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent risk factors.
RESULTS
Total LARS incidence was 31%. Statistically significant differences were found in tumor distance from anal verge, tumor extension (pT and diameter) and tumor grading (G). Multivariate analysis identified tumor distance from anal verge and tumor extension as an independent predictive factor for both major and total LARS. Adjuvant therapy, although not significant at univariate analysis, was identified as an independent predictive factor. Time to stoma closure within 10 weeks seems to reduce incidence of major LARS.
CONCLUSIONS
bold LARS affects a considerable portion of patients. This study identified potential predictive factors that could be useful to identify high risk patients for LARS.
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