Bowel dysfunction after sigmoid resection underestimated: Multicentre study on quality of life after surgery for carcinoma of the rectum and sigmoid

Abstract Aim The Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) severely affects quality of life (QoL) after rectal cancer surgery. There are no data about functional complaints after sigmoid cancer surgery. We investigated LARS and QoL in patients with a resection for sigmoid cancer versus patients who had surgery for rectal cancer. Methods 506 patients after resection for rectal or sigmoid cancer who were at least one year colostomy-free were included between January 2008 and December 2013. Bowel function was assessed by the LARS-Score. QoL was assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and -CR29 questionnaires. QoL was compared between the LARS score categories and tumour height categories. Results 412 respondents (81.5%) could be included for the analyses. The median interval since treatment was 5 years, and the median age at the follow-up point was 72 years. Major LARS increased significantly with decreasing tumour height from one fifth in sigmoid carcinoma to 90% in low rectum carcinoma. Female gender (OR = 2.162; 95% CI: 1.349–3.467), postoperative temporary diverting stoma (OR = 3.457; 95% CI: 2.019–5.919) and tumours located in the middle (OR = 3.193; 95% CI: 1.696–6.010) or lower rectum (OR = 8.247; 95% CI: 1.672–40.678) were independently associated with the development of major LARS. Patients with major LARS fared significantly worse in most QOL domains. Conclusions For the first time, we found that functional abdominal complaints after sigmoid surgery are a major problem, with a negative effect on QoL, even 5 years after treatment. Patients need to be adequately informed about these long-term complaints.