Manometric evaluation of anorectal function in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer

Background: An altered anorectal function is reported after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgery for rectal cancer. Aim: The aim of this study was to clarify the relative contribution of neoadjuvant chemoradiation and surgical resection on the impairment of anorectal function as evaluated by anorectal manometry. Methods: Thirty-nine patients with rectal cancer, who underwent neoadjuvant CRT and laparoscopic rectal resection, were evaluated with the Pescatori Faecal Incontinence score, and with anorectal manometry: before neoadjuvant therapy (TO), after neoadjuvant therapy and before surgery (T1), 12 months after stoma closure (T2). Results: Resting and/or maximum squeeze pressure and/or volume thresholds for urgency were below the normal values in 12 (30%) patients at baseline. After CRT the mean resting pressure significantly decreased (p = 0.007). Surgery determined a significantly decrease of the resting pressure (p = 0.001), of the maximum squeeze pressure (p = 0.001) and of the volume threshold for urgency (p = 0.001). Impairment of continence was reported by 5, 11 and 18 patients at TO, T1 and T2, with a mean incontinence score of 3, 3.8 and 3.9 respectively. Conclusions: CRT is detrimental to the function of the internal anal sphincter. Rectal resection significantly affects both internal and external anal sphincter function and the maximum tolerated volume of the neo-rectum, particularly in patients with low rectal cancer, significantly impairing anal continence. (C) 2016 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.