Overview of LARS Syndrome

Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) is a group of bowel symptoms that happens after surgery to remove part or all of the rectum, usually for rectal cancer. It causes trouble with bowel control and habits, such as urgent or frequent needs to poop, leaking, and clustering of small movements, which...

• Low anterior resection syndrome represents a constellation of bowel dysfunctions occurring after partial or total proctectomy, primarily performed for rectal malignancy. While oncologic outcomes often dominate postoperative surveillance, functional sequelae pose a major long-term challenge. The underlying pathophysiology is multifactorial, involving loss of the rectal reservoir, pelvic autonomic nerve disruption, altered colonic motility, and internal anal sphincter dysfunction. Established risk factors include a low tumor distance from the anal verge, pelvic radiotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, female sex, and prolonged presence of a diverting loop ileostomy.