Analysis of surgical indications and methods for keeping anus operation in treatment of middle-lower segment rectum cancer

Objective To analyze surgical indications and methods for keeping anus operation in treating patients with middle-lower segment rectum cancer.Methods Retrospective analysis on clinical data of 23 cases with middle-lower segment rectum cancer treated by keeping anus operation between January 2002 and March 2007 had been carried out.Results There were no death, complications and recurrence after the operation seen in follow-up study.Conclusion The indications for keeping anus operation in treating patients with middle-lower segment rectum cancer are as follows: the distance from tumor to anus≥5cm, the diameter of tumor ≤3 cm, the range of rectum involved by the tumor ≤1/2, no infiltration of tumor cells in the serosae of intestinal wall and peripheral tissues or organs, and carcinomatous change of polypoid adenoma. The surgical methods for this operation are total mesorectal excision and cleaning up neighboring lymph nodes.