[Colo-anal anastomosis. Our experience]

The aim of study is to report the results of our experience about ultra-low rectum carcinomas treated with anterior resection and colo-anal anastomosis. The surgery still represents the treatment of choice for the cancer of the rectum. The problems concern the conservation of the sphincter functions (anal and urethral), and sexual function and the reduction of the locoregional recurrences. From 2005 to 2007, 33 patients underwent surgery for low and ultralow rectal carcinoma (30 treated with neoadjuvant radio-chemotherapy, and 3 only with surgery). In 16 of these we have performed a colo-anal anastomosis, in 11 an ultralow colorectal anastomosis and in 7 a Miles resection. We report our updated results.

[Downstaging after neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer modifies the planned original surgery]

Cancer of the rectum has been for more years burdened with a heavy rate of local relapse about 30%. The introduction of total meso-rectum excision has reduced the rate of up to 5-8%. Later more studies proved how the preoperative radiotherapy was able to reduce the rate of local relapse. The Authors introduce studies about downstaging after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer and discuss about their own series from 2005 to 2007.