Sphincter-saving excision for cancers of the middle and lower parts of the rectum

Abstract

Currently four methods of sphincter-saving excision are in vogue for carcinomas of the middle and lower rectum--low anterior resection with or without the aid of the circular stapler, abdomino-sacral (or abdomino-transphincteric) resection, abdomino-anal resection with endocavitary sutured colorectal or colo-anal anastomosis, and local excision (or destruction by diathermy or contact irradiation). The relative advantages and--as far as is known--the results of these different methods are examined with special reference to anterior resection using the circular stapler, which is now by far the most popular choice.