Defecatory malfunction caused by motility disorder of the neorectum after anterior resection for rectal cancer.

Background: The correlation between postoperative defecatory status after anterior resection for rectal cancer and physiologic neorectal motility has not been well delineated.

Methods: Sixty patients who underwent anterior resection were examined. Motility of the neorectum was examined with 4-sensor intraluminal pressure monitoring, and segmental colonic transit time was determined with radiopaque Sitzmarks (Konsyl, Fort Worth, Texas) capsules.