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RACS ASC 2026
Efficacy of sacral nerve stimulation in patients with low anterior resection syndrome following treatment for rectal cancer
Verbal Presentation

Verbal Presentation

3:10 pm

01 May 2026

Meeting Room M6

The Mark Killingback Research Paper Presentations

Presentation Description

Institution: Colorectal Department, St Vincent’s Hospital Fitzroy - VIC, Australia

Purpose Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) is common after sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer and often compounded by neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Conservative management of refractory symptoms often results in unsatisfactory quality of life (QoL). Sacral Nerve Stimulator (SNS) has been proposed as a therapeutic option for refractory symptoms. This study aims to evaluate the effect of SNS on incontinence and QoL in patients with LARS following rectal cancer treatment. Methodology We performed a single centre, retrospective cohort study examining the change in LARS symptoms following SNS implantation. All patients had previously undergone sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer and exhibited persistent LARS symptoms despite multidisciplinary conservative management. Between January 2023 and July 2024, ten consecutive patients who underwent SNS insertion were identified. Demographic, peri-operative and adjuvant treatment data were collected retrospectively from medical records. Primary outcomes included changes in bowel function using LARS score and Wexner faecal incontinence score. QoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Pre- and post-operative patient reported outcome measures were compared, with post-operative assessment done at least three months following implantation. Results Ten patients underwent SNS implantation. Patients were split evenly by sex with median age of 53 years. All patients had undergone ultra-low anterior resection with diverting ileostomy and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Prior to SNS, 90% of patients had major LARS. Following SNS implantation, 80% of patients had improved LARS score (37.4 vs 29.6, p<0.05), whilst no patients had worse LARS symptoms. Conclusion We present early retrospective cohort data demonstrating significant improvement in QoL in LARS patients who have undergone SNS implantation. This demonstrates SNS can effectively reduce faecal incontinence and improve the QoL of rectal cancer patients.
Presenters
Authors
Authors

Dr Yufeng Nie - , Dr Sukhwant Khanijaun - , Dr Yui Kaneko - , Dr Cori Behrenbruch -