In full-thickness rectal prolapse, elderly, sick patients are selected for a perineal operation. The morbidity, functional outcomes, and quality of life are acceptable. However, the high recurrence rates make the perineal operation a second-best choice for younger, healthy patients.

Recurrent parastomal hernia repair is associated with high re-recurrence rates.OSRL seems to have promising short-term outcomes; however, whether these results hold up long-term remains unclear. Therefore, larger cohorts of patients with longer follow-up or prospective randomized trials are needed.

More than 30% of patients undergoing a Hartmann's procedure for diverticulitis will not have their stoma reversed within a year. If this scoring system can be validated in an independent group of patients, it will be useful in allowing surgeons to strategize accurately and to counsel patients realistically.

Background/Aims: To evaluate the outcomes of sphincter-saving operation for rectal cancer without protective stoma and pelvic drain and to determine factors influencing anastomotic leakage. Methods: We investigated 170 patients undergoing elective sphincter-saving operation without protective stoma and pelvic drain during 2003–2006 in a single institution. Early postoperative outcomes were evaluated. 17 independent patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related variables were analyzed by a multivariate model to determine their association with anastomotic leakage. Results: The patients’ median age was 64 years. Median tumor height was 8 cm (range 3–15) from the anal verge. Overall 30-day mortality rate was 1.2%. Postoperative complications were diagnosed in 38 patients (22%) including 14 cases of anastomotic leakage (8.2%), of which 10 cases (71%) required surgical intervention. Tumor height within 5 cm from the anal verge was the only independent factor for leakage (OR 4.04; 95% CI 1.25–13.08). Conclusion: A sphincter-saving operation without a protective stoma and pelvic drain can be performed safely in the vast majority of rectal cancer patients. Tumor height within 5 cm from the anal verge is an independent risk factor for anastomotic leakage. Thus, the routine use of a protective stoma and pelvic drainage might be unnecessary.

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