Postoperative bowel dysfunction in patients with rectal cancer - Does a minimally invasive surgical approach improve outcomes?

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of MIS approaches for rectal cancer with long-term postoperative bowel dysfunction.

Materials And Methods: This was an Institutional Review Board-approved observational cohort study including consecutive patients with rectal or rectosigmoid cancer who underwent surgical resection between 2007 and 2017. The primary exposure was surgical approach, defined as open surgery or MIS (laparoscopy or robotic surgery). The primary outcome was major LARS, defined as a LARS score of ≥30. Subgroup analyses were performed by tumor height and type of MIS approach.

Results: Among 749 potentially eligible patients, 514 (68.6 %) responded to the survey and were included for analysis. In total, 195 (37.9 %) patients underwent an MIS approach - 117 (60.0 %) laparoscopic and 78 (40.0 %) robotic. At a median follow-up of 6.1 (3.7-9.6) years from surgery, 222 patients (43.2 %) had major LARS (MIS: 41.0 % vs. open: 44.5 %, p = 0.44). On multivariable logistic regression, surgical approach had no association with major LARS (MIS, aOR: 1.21, 0.79-1.86). Older age (aOR: 1.03, 1.01-1.04), female sex (aOR: 1.75, 1.16-2.67), TME (aOR: 1.74, 1.01-3.02), diverting ileostomy (aOR: 2.74, 1.49-5.02) and radiation therapy (aOR: 2.63, 1.60-4.33) were all associated with major LARS. On subgroup analysis of patients with mid and low rectal cancers (n = 197), there remained no association between surgical approach and major LARS (MIS, aOR: 1.50, 0.68-3.33).

Conclusions: MIS approach to rectal cancer surgery was not associated with decreased risk of major LARS and should not be touted as a reason to offer MIS.