Study: Advantages Seen in New Rectal Cancer Surgery Technique

Rectal cancer surgery using a technique called total mesorectal excision (TME) preserves male genital function better than other rectal cancer surgical techniques, according to researchers at the University of Bern in Switzerland.

Total mesorectal excision is a surgical procedure in which the tissue surrounding the rectum containing tumor cells is removed along with the rectum itself. The procedure has been shown to improve local recurrence rates in rectal cancer.

Researchers developed a study to evaulate the impact of this more extensive and radical procedure with regard to pelvic nerve function, analyzing the outcomes of 31 males who underwent TME surgery and 29 patients who had another surgical procedure for rectal cancer.

After surgery, urinary urgency, incontinence and dribbling were more frequent in the patients who did not have TME, the researchers said. Painful or difficult urination and sensation of incomplete bladder emptying were equally common in both groups.

Difficulty in emptying the bladder was more common in the TME patients, according to the study published in the British Journal of Surgery.

Both groups experienced a decrease in sexual function, but the men in the TME group had less of a decrease than the non-TME group.

"TME offers a significant advantage with regard to preservation of postoperative sexual function in men and constitutes a true advance in rectal cancer surgery compared with conventional techniques," concluded the researchers.

Other Sources: British Journal of Surgery