Comparison of a colonic J-pouch and transverse coloplasty pouch in patients with rectal cancer after an ultralow anterior resection using fecoflowmetric profiles

Because the standard straight coloanal anastomosis for low rectal cancer tends to result in unfavorable outcomes in terms of defecatory function, colonic pouch reconstruction has therefore recently been adopted in many institutions. The colonic J-pouch (CJP)- and transverse coloplasty pouch (TCP)-anal anastomoses have been adopted worldwide. However, the comparative benefits and drawbacks of the two procedures are uncertain. This study was designed to analyze the functional and clinical outcomes after an ultralow anterior resection (ULAR) using the fecoflowmetry (FFM). Between November 1996 and July 2005, 18 patients were studied retrospectively. They were evaluated by FFM, together with Kelly's clinical score (KCS), and anorectal manometric assessments were also performed. The KCS directly correlated to the maximum fecal stream flow rate (F (max)). In this study, postoperative patients with good KCS as well as a high value of F (max) were seen more in the patients with CJP than in those with TCP. From the viewpoint of FFM, the patients with CJP had a more favorable functional outcome than those with TCP. FFM provided quantitative and qualitative evaluations concerning the anorectal motor activity in patients who had undergone an ULAR for rectal cancer.