High Risk of Low Anterior Resection Syndrome in Long-term Follow-up After Anastomotic Leakage in Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancer

BACKGROUND: Low anterior resection syndrome is common after sphincter-sparing surgery, but it is unclear to what extent anastomotic leakage after anterior resection contributes to this condition. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the long-term effect of anastomotic leakage on the occurrence of major low anterior resection syndrome. DESIGN: This is a retrospective observational cohort study evaluating low anterior resection syndrome 4 to 11 years after index surgery. After propensity score-matching using the covariates sex, age, tumor stage, comorbidity, neoadjuvant treatment, extent of mesorectal excision, and defunctioning stoma at index surgery, the effect of anastomotic leakage on low anterior resection syndrome was investigated using relative risk and 95% CI. SETTINGS: This multicenter study included patients from 15 Swedish hospitals between 2007 and 2013. PATIENTS: Patients who underwent anterior resection for rectal cancer were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included patient-reported major low anterior resection syndrome, obtained via a postal questionnaire that included a question on stoma status. RESULTS: Among 1099 patients, 653 (59.4%) responded in at a median of 83.5 (interquartile range 66 to 110) months postoperatively. After excluding patients with residual stoma or incomplete responses, 544 remained; of these, 42 had anastomotic leakage. Patients with anastomotic leakage were more likely to have major low anterior resection syndrome (66.7% [28/42]) than patients without leakage (45.8% [230/502]). After matching, anastomotic leakage was significantly related to major low anterior resection syndrome (relative risk 2.3; 95% CI 1.4-3.9) and the individual symptom of urgency (relative risk 2.1; 95% CI 1.1-4.1). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its retrospective observational study design. CONCLUSIONS: In long-term follow-up, major low anterior resection syndrome is common after anterior resection for rectal cancer. Anastomotic leakage appears to increase the risk of major low anterior resection syndrome, with urgency as a major contributing symptom.

Automated summary

This retrospective observational cohort study found a significant association between anastomotic leakage and the occurrence of major low anterior resection syndrome.