Causes of fecal and urinary incontinence after total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer based on cadaveric surgery:A study from the cooperative clinical investigators of the Dutch total mesorectal excision trial

Purpose: Total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer may result in anorectal and urogenital dysfunction. We aimed to study possible nerve disruption during TME and its consequences for functional outcome. Because the levator ani muscle plays an important role in both urinary and fecal continence, an explanation could be peroperative damage of the nerve supply to the levator ani muscle. Methods: TME was performed on cadaver pelves. Subsequently, the anatomy of the pelvic floor innervation and its relation to the pelvic autonomic innervation and the mesorectum were studied. Additionally, d... Mehr ...