Background: Low anterior rectal resection is an option for low rectal cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and manometric findings before and after low anterior resection in patients with rectal cancer. Methods: In a before-after prospective experimental study, 29 patients with colon cancer who were candidate for elective low anterior resection surgery in Imam Khomeini hospital were enrolled. In preoperative period, the data regarding the anorectal function were gathered and all the patients were assessed by an eight channel rectal manometer. After the surgery, patients were evaluated regarding current anorectal function and underwent rectal manometry for the second time. Results: The mean of defecation time was significantly higher in postoperative period compared with preoperative period (2.48±0.78 vs. 0.94±0.36 time per day). In postoperative period, gas incontinence was significantly higher in comparison to the preoperative period (27.59% vs. 0%). However, the fecal incontinence rates were comparable. Compared with preoperative period, max resting pressure was significantly reduced in postoperative period (53.20±17.45 vs. 64.32±17.33 mmHg). The same was true about max squeezing pressure (140.21±35.50 vs. 150.37±33.16 mmHg). Urgency also increased in postoperative period (48.28% vs. 0%). Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that following low anterior resection surgery for patients with rectal cancer, the defecation time, gas incontinence and urgency increase but max resting and squeezing pressure decrease.

Keywords: clinical findings, anorectal manometery, low anterior resection surgery, rectal cancer

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