Y después de la cirugía, ¿qué hay de nuevo para el superviviente de cáncer de recto?

Low anterior resection syndrome is a common but underestimated complication after rectal cancer surgery that significantly impacts the quality of life of the surviving patient. It is characterized by symptoms such as fecal incontinence and voiding dysfunction and affects up to 90% of patients undergoing low anterior rectal resection. The etiology of the syndrome is multifactorial with no clear determining factor. It includes the use of preoperative radiotherapy, the indication for a protective ileostomy, sphincteric lesions, nerve damage to the rectal autonomic plexuses, and changes in left colon motor function. Although various therapeutic modalities have been shown to be effective in the management of the symptoms of the syndrome, there is still no standard treatment or patient selection pattern. In this article, a critical review of the therapeutic possibilities for patients who have survived rectal surgery will be made.