Prospective evaluation of the defecatory functional results in patients following aorto-aortic reconstruction surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm

Purpose. Anterior rectal resections have been associated with postoperative bowel function abnormalities, a condition defined as anterior resection syndrome. Autonomic denervation could be one of the possible mechanisms underlying this complication. Damage to the preaortic tissue containing autonomic nervous plexus during abdominal aortic reconstruction surgery may affect the anorectal defecation function. Methods. The anorectal function was prospectively studied in 22 patients undergoing abdominal aortic reconstruction surgery. The patients were examined preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively by symptom-specific questionnaires. Results. Postoperatively, the patients showed no significant impairment of the anorectal functions in both constipation- and fecal incontinence-specific questionnaires. Self-estimation of the defecatory function was slightly lower compared with preoperative scores. Conclusion. An injury to the intermesenteric, inferior mesenteric, and superior hypogastric plexuses does not significantly influence the defecatory functions in patients following abdominal reconstruction surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm.