anterior resection

anterior resection

A procedure that is regarded as the “gold standard” for carcinomas of the rectum, with the exception of the most distal such tumours, which require an AP resection.
Cons
(1) High risk (circa 15%) of anastomotic breakdown, for which many surgeons use a defunctioning ileostomy to reduce the risk of this complication.
(2) High incidence of urgency and faecal leakage, for which it is becoming standard practice to fashion a short colopouch to improve functionality.