[Radical operation for rectal cancer to preserve anorectal, urinary and sexual function]

Recently, preservation of physiological functions have become to be considered in the operative treatment for rectal cancer. Dysfunction caused following radical operation for rectal cancer is divided into two parts as follows, (1) disturbance or loss of anorectal function due to sacrifice of the anus in abdomino-perineal resection and decrease function as fecal reservoir following anal sphincter preserving resection of the rectum. (2) anorectal, urinary and sexual dysfunction following surgical injury to the autonomic nerves by pelvic lymph nodes dissection. Our conceptions of the indication for sphincter preserving operation and for wide dissection of pelvic lymph nodes which cause severe dysfunction of urinary and sexual functions postoperatively were discussed.