Urinary complications in rectal cancer patients are related to the dissection tool

To assess the incidence and risk of urinary complications after anterior rectal cancer resection with regard to the surgical device used for total mesorectal excision (TME).

During the years 2004-2009 we operated 374 rectal cancer patients with TME and the intent of autonomic nerves sparing intent. Seventeen patients underwent mesorectal dissection with ultrasound scalpel (US). They were compared to the control series of 35 cases selected from the patients for whom electrocautery was used. Selection was done in the manner to eliminate any other significant differences between groups.

Intraoperative complications, postoperative mortality, anastomotic leakage and infectious complications did not occur. Urinary bladder disturbances developed in US group in 1 patient (6%) while in 12 patients (34%) in EC group (p<0.05). In US group the character of complication was transient stress incontinence with symptoms being significantly reduced during six postoperative months. In EC group two patients had dysuria, two nycturia, one had both. Stress incontinence occurred in six patients, complete incontinence requiring catheterization in one.

When compared to EC, TME with US is related to lower risk of urinary complications and facilitates autonomic nerve preservation due to minimized thermal lateral tissue damage.