Outcomes of the distal rectal cancer treatment depending on the type of sphincter-sparing surgery

Abstract

Introduction: The increase in mid-ampullary and lower ampullary rectal cancer with disappointing treatment results requires ongoing discussion, research, and improvement of the complex treatment. Materials and methods: We analyzed the results of complex treatment in 442 patients with stages II–III mid-ampullary and lower ampullary rectal cancer that underwent three types of sphincter-sparing surgeries, including low anterior resection (LAR), intersphincteric resection (ISR), and abdomino-anal resection of the rectum (AAR) at the second stage of complex treatment. Results: There was a significant difference between groups in terms of surgery type selection based on the distance from the tumor to the dentate line. When the tumor was located at a distance of 30 mm or less from the dentate line, LAR was performed in 16.4% of cases, whereas ISR and AAR were used in 96.58 and 58.09% of cases, respectively, which is statistically significant (P<0.001). Preventive stoma was used in 78.87% of LAR, 5.9% of ISR, and 6.62% of AAR, which had a significant difference (P<0.001). In the structure of postoperative complications, a group of typical complications (ІІІ–IV) was identified for the types of operations performed. Their frequency when performing LAR was 18.2%, ISR – 7.7%, and AAR – 8.1%, which was statistically significant (P=0.003). The frequency of local recurrences, depending on the type of surgery was not statistically significant (P>0.05), but had a direct correlation with the recurrence-free survival curves. Relapse-free and overall (3 years and 5 years) survival depending on the type of sphincter-preserving surgery did not have a significant difference according to the log-rank test. Conclusion: The more types of surgical intervention surgeons have at their disposal, the more rational it is to select the one that will ensure the best treatment results.