TaTME: Analysis of the Evacuatory Outcomes and EUS Anal Sphincter

Introduction: Some patients undergoing transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) may experience post-surgical complications, such as impaired bowel function and urogenital and sexual dysfunction. The present work aims to evaluate the one-year impact of TaTME surgery on bowel function, quality of life, and outcomes. Material and methods: Twenty patients undergoing TaTME with cancer in the mid and lower rectum were assessed prospectively by endoscopic transanal ultrasound (EUS) and three physiological function degrees, along with different clinical outcome questionnaires. Results: EUS sphincter evaluation revealed no structural impact in follow-up. For evacuatory evaluation, differences in the scores of the first postoperative month of Wexner questionnaires were shown when compared to a 12-month period. At least 10% of patients remain with major low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) after one year. The (Fecal incontinence Quality of Life) FiQoL questionnaire revealed that the cases in which values were worse in the first month posteriorly recovered to baseline preoperative values. Conclusions: TaTME does not seem to impact sphincter structure and evacuatory function, with a good recovery rate one year post-surgery, but does not seem to interfere with patients' evacuatory function quality of life.