[Functional complications of the lower urinary tract after curative exeresis for cancer of the rectum]

The aim of the study is to assess the incidence and the pathogenesis of urinary dysfunction in the surgical treatment of rectal cancer. A series of 219 patients, who underwent surgery for rectal cancer with normal urinary preoperative function, was submitted to a prospective follow-up for the urinary function. Symptomatic patients in the follow-up were studied by ultrasonography, cystomanometry and pressure-flow electromyography. In the immediate follow-up only 17 patients with urinary dysfunction were observed (14 at stage 2, 2 at stage 3 an1 at stage 4 according Saito classification). Six months later only 8 patients had urinary dysfunction. In 1 of these cases neurogenic bladder requiring catheterization was observed no significative correlation with staging, radiotherapy, size of tumor, surgical technique was observed. Worst functional results were observed in patients who underwent abdomino-perineal resections.