A study on the clinical application of greater omental pedicle flap transplantation to correct anterior resection syndrome in patients with low rectal cancer

INTRODUCTION: Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is the most common complication after total mesorectal excision (TME) in patients with low rectal cancer and has been a challenge in colorectal surgery that severely impacts the quality of life of patients. This study aimed to introduce a revised surgical procedure which could effectively maintain rectal compliance and significantly improve LARS after the operation. METHODS: We performed mesorectal reconstruction after routine Dixon TME using greater omental pedicle flap transplantation in 11 patients with low rectal cancer (5 cases of preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, 5 cases of preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and 1 case of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy), thereby simulating the initial anatomical structure of the mesorectum and significantly reducing the postoperative anterior resection syndrome. The lars precision syndrome assessment scale (LARSS) was used to access the LARS. RESULTS: At 12 weeks after the 11 patients recovered from the anal defecation function, the average score on the LARS questionnaire was 25.5 ± 1.5 (minor). The average time at which anal function began to recover was 6.2 ± 2.6 weeks after surgery. The recovery was rapid, as the rectal and anal function of all patients generally returned to normal levels within 12 weeks, and the quality of life was close to that before surgery. CONCLUSION: Greater omental flap transplantation can significantly improve LARS after Dixon TME in patients with low rectal cancer.