LAUSR

The detailed process of anorectal function recovery of the patients after sphincter-saving resection is unclear. We aimed to achieve detailed anorectal function recovery data of the patients after sphincter-saving resection and explore the relationship between the two frequently used anorectal function evaluation methods. A total of 72 eligible cases who underwent the sphincter-saving resection were divided into 3 groups according to the distal tumor margin distance from the anal verge. “L” replaced the distance; group 1: L ≤ 4 cm, group 2: 4 cm < L ≤ 6 cm, group 3: below the peritoneal reflection L > 6 cm. The anorectal function recovery outcomes of the 3 groups before and after the operation were compared. According to Wexner scores, the patients could achieve a satisfactory anorectal function at 3 months after surgery in group 2 and group 3. The patients required 4–5 months after surgery to achieve a satisfactory anorectal function in group 1. According to the ARM, in group 1 to group 3, the time at which the patients’ ARP and MSP after surgery started to show no significant decreases ( p  > 0.05) compared with preoperative levels were 12 months, 6 months, and 3 months after surgery, respectively. By combining the two methods, although the patients’ ARM indexes did not reach preoperative level ( p  < 0.05) at 6 months, 9 months, and 3 months in group 1 and group 2, respectively, their Wexner score showed a satisfactory anorectal condition. To all patients, when their ARP and MSP were basically returned to preoperative levels ( p  > 0.05), their average Wexner score was ≤ 4 or so. According to different rectal tumor locations, we had drawn the different anorectal function recovery curves with time, which could provide a reference for many treatments, such as the time of ileostomy closure. And we found the two anorectal function evaluation methods were not completely identical.