Rehabilitation strategies for low anterior resection syndrome. A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the evidence in the literature about rehabilitative treatments that reduce low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) symptoms in patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer.

METHODS

We have search in PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health and Scopus databases. Studies selected were limited to those including only patient undergone low rectal resection with sphincter preservation and with pre-post assessment with a LARS score. Five articles fit the criteria.

RESULTS

The percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation demonstrated moderate results and sacral nerve stimulation was found to be the best treatment with greater symptom improvement. Only one study considered sexual and urinary problems in the outcomes assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

In clinical practice patients should evaluate with the LARS and other score for evaluation of urinary and sexual problems. Future research must be implemented with higher quality studies to identify the least invasive and most effective treatment/s.