PREVIOUS ANAL INCONTINENCE IN PATIENTS WI TH CANCER OF THE COLON

Hypothesis: Patients with rectal carcinoma may have anal continence di sorders before the operation, in relation to age. Aim: To evaluate the anorectal function in a consecutive sample of patients with rectal ca rcinoma before the operation. Material and methods: 56 consecutive pat ients with rectal carcinoma were studied and classified into two group s according to anal continence: continent and incontinent. Anorectal f unction were evaluated in all patients: Perineometry (perineal measure ments at rest and during a straining effort). Anal manometry (anal pre ssures and rectal capacity), Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency. St atistical analysis: quantitative data: -test (confidence interval), qu alitative data: Fischer exact test. Results: Anal continence: continen t 41, incontinent 15. All patients with anal incontinence were more th an 60 years old (p< 0.01). Mean age: continent 61.3 +/- 12.4, incontin ent 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 wi th rectal carcinoma have preoperative anal continence alterations, in relation to pelvic disorders and age.