[Progression in bowel dysfunction after sphincter-preserving operation for rectal cancer]

The progress in the idea and technology of rectal cancer improve the rate of sphincter-preservation, while bowel dysfunction is the major problem puzzling patients after sphincter-preserving operation. Recent researches reveal bowel dysfunction is closely associated with the postoperative change of anatomy, nerve damage and sphincter functional injury based on the mechanism of defecation function change through the analysis of anatomy, physiology and dynamics. This paper summarizes the mechanism and epidemiology of bowel dysfunction after rectal cancer operation, and elucidate the role of such mechanism in treatment and prevention of above bowel dysfunction.