Table 3 Comparison of long-term outcomes following low anterior resection: patients with major (scores ≥30) low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) vs non-major (scores < 30) LARS

Age- years; mean (SD)

61.4 (12.3)

65.3 (9.9)

NS

Distance of tumor from anal verge-cm; mean(SD)

6.5 (3.3)

6.9 (3.5)

NS

Time to stoma closure –months; mean(SD)

6.8 (4.6)

4.8 (2.8)

0.03

Average time of follow-up- years; mean(SD)

3.7 (1.8)

4.4 (1.5)

NS

Gender – male; n (%)

37 (67%)

17 (68%)

NS

Pathological staging at surgery; n(%)

 Stage 0

10 (18%)

9 (36%)

NS

 Stage 1

7 (12.7%)

4 (16%)

 Stage 2

18 (33%)

4 (16%)

 Stage 3

19 (35%)

8 (32%)

 Stage 4

1 (2%)

0 (0%)

Neo-adjuvant chemoradiation therapy; n (%)

52 (94.5)^a

21 (84)

NS

Patients with colo-anal anastomosis; n (%)

23 (42)

6 (24)

0.09

Protective ileostomy; n (%)

53 (96.4)

23 (92)

NS

Perioperative anastomotic dehiscence/pelvic abscess; n(%)

2 (3.6)

0 (0)

NS

Adjuvant chemotherapy; n (%)

21 (38)

2 (8)

0.01

Anal/rectal stricture following surgery; n (%)

6 (10.9)

2 (8)

NS

Referred for anorectal manometry; n (%)

35 (64)

4 (16)

< 0.001

Referred for anorectal biofeedback; n (%)

22 (40)

2 (8)

0.003