Comparative study on the value of anal preserving surgery for aged people with low rectal carcinoma in Jiangsu, China.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of anal preserving surgery for aged people with low rectal carcinoma. METHODS Clinical data for a consecutive cohort of 98 rectal cancer patients with distal tumors located within 3 cm-7 cm of the anal verge were collected. Among these, 42 received anal preserving surgery (35 with Dixon, 3 with Parks and 4 with transanal operations). The local recurrence and survival rates in the above operations were compared with those of the Miles operation in another 56 patients with rectal cancer. RESULTS The local recurrence and 3-, 5-year survival rates of anal preserving surgery were 16.7%, 64.3% and 52.4%, those of Miles operations were 16.1%, 67.9% and 51.8% respectively (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Anal preserving surgery for aged people with low rectal cancer is not inferior to conventional operations in China, with satisfactory long term survival and comparable local recurrence rates.