Study to Understand and Improve Treatment for Low Anterior Resection Syndrome After Colorectal Cancer Surgery Using Advanced Assessments

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating why some patients develop low anterior resection syndrome LARS after treatment for colorectal cancer. LARS is a common long-term complication causing symptoms like urgency, frequent bowel movements, and fecal incontinence, which can greatly affect quality of life. The study aims to understand the underlying physiological and imaging changes associated with LARS, identify different patient subtypes, and compare LARS patients to others treated with organ-preserving chemoradiotherapy or those with fecal incontinence. This observational study includes 50 patients with minor or major LARS after rectal cancer surgery and compares them with four control groups patients without LARS after surgery, patients with fecal incontinence before and after nerve stimulation, patients with urge fecal incontinence before and after nerve stimulation, and patients treated with organ-preserving chemoradiotherapy. All participants attend a single study visit involving advanced physiological measurements, MRI-based assessments, and questionnaires. Patients with LARS will also be followed during their usual stepwise treatment pathway including dietary advice, medication, pelvic floor training, and rectal emptying techniques. During the study visit, participants undergo detailed assessments of bowel function, sensory and motility changes, and sphincter activity. Questionnaires are completed before and during treatment steps to track symptoms and quality of life. Researchers measure outcomes such as quality of life scores, LARS severity, incontinence scores, stool form, anxiety and depression levels, and physiological parameters. This study helps explore how different bowel function patterns relate to treatment response, with the entire process conducted in collaboration among specialized hospitals and research centers.

Understanding and Tailored Treatment of Low Anterior Resection Syndrome