Long-term bowel function following delayed coloanal anastomosis: Analysis of a multicentric cohort study (GRECCAR)

Alteration of bowel function after delayed coloanal anastomosis (DCAA) might be a limitation to its utilization. Our aim was to assess the long-term bowel function of DCAA in a large multicentric cohort.

All patients who underwent DCAA interventions at 29 GRECCAR-affiliated hospitals between 2010 and 2021 were retrospectively included. Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) score or confection of a stoma due to poor bowel function was assessed in eligible patients. Good bowel function was defined by the preservation of bowel continuity with no LARS or a minor LARS.

Among the 385 eligible patients to assess long-term bowel continuity, 63% (n = 243) responded to the questionnaire or had a definitive stoma because of poor bowel function. After a median follow-up of 32 months, good bowel function was reported by 60% (n = 146) of patients (with no LARS 36% and minor LARS 24%), whereas 40% of patients (n = 146) had a poor bowel function including major LARS (36%) and definitive stoma due to poor bowel function (4%). No variables tested were predictive of a poor bowel function after DCAA, including a history of pelvic radiotherapy (P = 0.722), salvage DCAA after failure of a previous anastomosis (P = 0.755), presence of a diverting stoma (P = 0.556), occurrence of an anastomotic leakage (P = 0.416) and time interval from the DCAA to the bowel function assessment (P = 0.350).

No LARS or minor LARS was reached for 60% of patients after DCAA. Less than 5% of patients received a definitive stoma due to a poor bowel function.