LARRIS (Low Anterior Resection syndrome and Rectal Irrigation Study)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The acceptability and efficacy of rectal irrigation in patients with low anterior resection syndrome.
IRAS ID
160182
Contact name
Julie Cornish
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Development Manager
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Rectal cancer affects the lower part of the bowel. There are over 15,000 new cases of rectal cancer in the UK per annum (CancerResearch UK 2014). There are currently two main treatment options for rectal cancer; abdominoperineal resection (which involves the removal of the whole of the rectum, the anus and a permanent stoma) or anterior resection (removal of the rectum and joining together of the bowel). The surgical option depends largely on the position and size of the cancer but increasingly patients are being offered anterior resection due to improved surgical techniques. Many patients prefer to use antidiarrhoeal medications, pads and employ significant lifestyle alterations rather than have a permanent stoma (Maris A. 2012). Whilst most patients prefer the idea of joining the bowel, there is potentially a negative aspect.
Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) refers to a collection of symptoms (faecal incontinence, urgency and frequency) that may affect up to 50% of patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery that preserves their sphincter and avoids a stoma but can have a significant adverse effect on quality of life (Kakodkar R. 2006). Rectal irrigation is a treatment currently being used for benign functional bowel problems (Chan D 2012), however there has been a small study suggesting a potential improvement in both quality of life and continence scores for patients using rectal irrigation. (Rosen H. 2011)
The aim of this study is to assess whether rectal irrigation has the potential to be an effective treatment for the symptoms of LARS improving patient quality of life and whether patients will accept it as a form of treatment.REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
15/WA/0089
Date of REC Opinion
24 Apr 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion