Quality of life of patients treated with abdominoperineal resection or anterior resection for rectal carcinoma.

The functional results of surgery for rectal carcinoma were evaluated in 68 patients, 37 treated with anterior resection and 31 with abdominoperineal resection. The patients answered a questionnaire 8-84 months after surgery regarding bowel habits, urgency, incontinence and quality of life. Those who had undergone anterior resection had significantly more frequent bowel movements per day than those treated with abdominoperineal resection, and problems with urgency and flatus. Significantly more patients treated with anterior resection used medication to achieve normal bowel function. Despite the problems of frequent bowel movement, urgency, flatulence and the need for frequent medication, the patients who had undergone sphincter-saving procedures seemed to have a better quality of life than those treated with abdominoperineal resection.