Publicaties

PURPOSE: Sacral neurostimulation (SNS) has proven to be an effective treatment modality for low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). The primary aim of this study is to investigate the impact of SNS on all symptoms of LARS, not merely on fecal incontinence. Furthermore, we wanted to evaluate whether the LARS score could be useful as a tool to evaluate SNS treatment. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with minor or major LARS, unresponsive to ...

Aim: Many patients are confronted with low anterior resection syndrome after rectal surgery. The perspectives of both healthcare professionals and patients on the impact of bowel problems may differ. This study aimed to explore experiences of healthcare professionals on how to provide, organise and optimise care for patients with low anterior resection syndrome from an interprofessional perspective. Method: An explorative qualitative design was ...

Aims and objectives: The aim was to explore the information and counselling needs of rectal cancer survivors confronted with major low anterior resection syndrome. Background: Rectal cancer survivors are often confronted with bowel problems after surgery. This is called low anterior resection syndrome. Patients are unsure what to expect after treatment and healthcare professionals often underestimate the impact of low anterior resection syndrome ...

Purpose: After treatment, many rectal cancer survivors are confronted with ongoing bowel problems, called low anterior resection syndrome. The cancer diagnosis and treatment poses a burden on informal caregivers and results in higher levels of psychological distress and loneliness which is persistent after treatment as well. Our study aimed to investigate the experiences and needs of partners as informal caregivers of patients with major low ...

Background: Overall survival rates after rectal cancer have increased. Therefore, functional outcomes rightly deserve more interest. The aims of this study were to assess progression in total, sports, occupational and household physical activity levels of rectal cancer survivors, from preoperatively to 12 months after surgery/stoma closure and to explore predictive factors. Methods: Multi-center prospective study with 125 patients who underwent ...

Background and Objective: Total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer (RC) often results in significant bowel symptoms, commonly known as low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). Although pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is recommended in noncancer populations for treating bowel symptoms, this has been scarcely investigated in RC patients. The objective was to investigate PFMT effectiveness on LARS in patients after TME for RC. Methods: ...

Purpose: Rectal cancer survivors are often confronted with long-term bowel function impairment, called low anterior resection syndrome. This has a large impact on patients’ lives. The aim was to explore the experiences of patients with major low anterior resection syndrome with a specific focus on hope and loneliness. Methods: A grounded theory approach was used. Individual semi-structured interviews (n = 28) were performed between 2017 and ...

Ultralow anterior resection with coloanal anastomosis has been proven to be oncologically sound and the majority of patients will have acceptable functional outcome. Here we describe a technique that combines laparoscopic ultralow total mesorectal excision with an intersphincteric dissection in order to allow the mobilized rectum and descending colon to be extracted via the muscular anal canal and so avoid any further abdominal incision other ...

Since several years, low anterior resection, with total mesorectal excision and preservation of the autonomic nerves of the pelvis has become the gold standard for rectal cancer surgery. However, this surgery affects bowel function in 60-90% of patients. These symptoms are referred to as the 'low anterior resection syndrome' and are associated with a large negative impact on quality of life. Currently, patients only receive some anti-diarrheal ...

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate whether bowel symptoms related to low anterior resection for rectal cancer can be sufficiently well evaluated by the Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) questionnaire score or the ColoRectal Functional Outcome (COREFO) questionnaire compared with a stool diary. METHOD: All patients underwent low anterior resection for rectal cancer. They were asked to fill out a stool diary, the LARS questionnaire ...