Correlation between endoscopic features of the anastomosis after low anterior resection and postsurgical anorectal function

With low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer, the oncologic outcomes are recently good. A diverting ileostomy is often created to protect the newly constructed anastomosis; seldom is a permanent stoma needed. Predicting postoperative anorectal function remains difficult, however. We speculated that the endoscopic appearance of the anastomosis before ileostomy closure is predictive of the post-operative anorectal function and tested our hypothesis retrospectively.