title: Functional outcome following low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision in the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Disturbance of bowel function is not uncommon following low anterior resection, but the effect of low anterior resection on the elderly has seldom been documented. This study investigated the functional outcome in elderly patients following low anterior resection for carcinoma of the rectum.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 87 patients with carcinoma of middle and lower rectum who underwent curative low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision and remained alive without recurrence for at least 6 months following the resection or closure of stoma. Anorectal manometry and questionnaire survey of the patients' bowel function were performed during follow-up (median 24.1 months) to investigate the functional outcome after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median number of bowel motions was 2.5 per day in both elderly and young patients. Complete continence was achieved in 71.3% of patients, with both elderly and young patients performing similarly. The most common symptoms were clustering of bowel motions and urgency, which occurred in 30.3% and 34.9% of patients respectively, regardless of age. Manometric findings were also similar between the elderly and their younger counterparts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bowel function and manometric findings following low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision in the elderly are not worse than in younger patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Wai Lun
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: See Ching
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Chi Kee
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Kin Wah
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods*; D003106:Colon / Q000502:physiology; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome