Prevalence and clinical characteristics of phantom rectum syndrome after rectum resection in Chinese patients

Phantom syndrome is a common sequela after limb amputation, whereas phantom rectum syndrome after rectum resection was rarely reported. This study attempted to examine the prevalence and characters of phantom rectum syndrome in Chinese patients. From the hospital records, eighty-one cases received rectum resection for carcinoma of the rectum were included. A written inquiry by a questionnaire was used. The data were obtained by the responded questionnaire. Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were used for data analysis. Of 81 cases collected, 55 cases responded and entered the study. The prevalence of phantom rectum syndrome was 40%, and in 55% of these or 22% of all patients this phantom sensation was painful. The age (53.0 ± 14.6 years, p < 0.05) of the patients with painful phantom rectum syndrome was significantly lower than that of the patients with non-painful phantom rectum syndrome (64.4 ± 6.9 years) and the patients without phantom rectum syndrome (62.8 ± 11.1 years). Patients with high educational level exhibited higher occurrence of painful phantom rectum syndrome. A higher prevalence of phantom rectum syndrome and painful phantom rectum syndrome were observed in patients with preoperative pain. The phantom rectum syndrome after rectum resection in Chinese patients really exists and the occurrence of painful phantom rectum syndrome is related to young age, high educational level and preoperative pain.