Hypothesis: Patients with rectal carcinoma may have anal continence disorders before the operation, in relation to age.
Aim: To evaluate the anorectal function in a consecutive sample of patients with rectal carcinoma before the operation.
Material and methods: 56 consecutive patients with rectal carcinoma were studied and classified into two groups according to anal continence: continent and incontinent. Anorectal function were evaluated in all patients: Perineometry (perineal measurements at rest and during a straining effort), Anal manometry (anal pressures and rectal capacity), Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency.
Statistical analysis: quantitative data: -test (confidence interval), qualitative data: Fischer exact test.
Results: Anal continence: continent 41, incontinent 15. All patients with anal incontinence were more than 60 years old (p<0.01). Mean age: continent 61.3 +/- 12.4, incontinent 74.3 +/- 6 (p<0.01, CI 8.02-17.98). Perineal measurement: at rest: continent 2.97 +/- 0.69. incontinent 2.54 +/- 0.56 (p<0.05, CI 0.03-0.83), with straining effort: continent 1.37 +/- 0.86, incontinent 0.81 +/- 0.92 (p < 0.05, CI 0.03 - 1.86). Pudendal latency: continent 1.9 +/- 0.3, incontinent 2.3 +/- 0.5 (p<0.01, CI 0.11-0.69). There was no significant difference in the manometric data.
Conclusion: Patients with rectal carcinoma have preoperative anal continence alterations, in relation to pelvic disorders and age.