[Sphincter preservation in rectal cancer: possibilities and limits of anterior resection]

The feasibility of sphincter preservation was studied in surgery of tumours in the upper, middle and lower third of the rectum. All patients operated on for rectal cancer between January 1977 and May 1980 were included in the investigation. Preoperative localization of the tumours was performed with the rigid sigmoidoscope. Every patient was scheduled for post-operative follow up. Altogether 211 patients were operated on for rectal cancer. 111 were treated by anterior resection, 90 by abdominoperineal excision, and 10 by other sphincter-saving methods. All of the 59 tumours located in the upper third of the rectum (12 to 16 cm from the anus) were treated by anterior resection. 62 tumours were located in the middle third (8 to 12 cm). In these cases anterior resection was carried out in 60% of the men and in 82% of the women, whereas the other patients underwent abdominoperineal excision. 80 tumours were located in the lower third (4 to 8 cm). Anterior resection was possible in only 4.4% of the men and in 14% of the women. Irrespective of their localization on sigmoidoscopy, 37% of the tumours which were within reach of the finger on rectal palpation could be removed by anterior resection. Local recurrence after anterior resection occurred in 18.3%, the median follow-up time being 50 months. The cumulative probable survival for all stages was more than 5 years for 60% of the patients.