Evacuation of neorectal reservoirs after TME

Colon pouch reconstruction after deep rectal resection is functionally superior to straight colorectal/anal anastomosis. However, stool evacuation difficulties could jeopardize the functional benefit of neorectal reservoirs. Beside the well proven colon J-pouch, the transverse coloplasty pouch may represent a viable alternative. We examined evacuation and functional outcome after total mesorectal excision and transverse coloplasty pouch reconstruction. Thirty consecutive patients with cancer of the middle and distal third of rectum underwent a total mesorectal excision. In all patients, reconstruction was performed with a transverse coloplasty pouch. Pouch and anastomosis were checked by Gastrografin enema postoperatively. Eight months after surgery, video defecography, anal manometry and pouch volumetry were performed and the patients were interviewed according to a standardized continence questionnaire. Rectal resection and reconstruction with transverse coloplasty pouch anastomosis could be performed in all patients. No insufficiency of the pouch occurred. In the follow-up, no patient had difficulties to evacuate the pouch, none of these patients needed enemas or suppositories to facilitate defecation. All patients were continent for solid stools. Twenty-five of 27 patients had up to three bowel movements per day. Patients with reduced pelvic floor movement in the defecography proved more likely to suffer from urgency, fragmented evacuation and incontinence. Transverse coloplasty pouch reconstruction after total mesorectal excision is not associated with stool evacuation problems. Urgency and incontinence, which are rarely seen after this type of reconstruction, correlate with impaired pelvic floor movement rather than with pouch size or anal sphincter tonus.