Can the POLARS tool accurately predict low anterior resection syndrome in rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic resection?
Introduction Radical rectal cancer resection can lead to a long-term bowel function impairment known as low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). It remains unclear how to determine which patients are at a higher risk of developing LARS post-surgery. The POLARS tool was designed to predict the onset a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Termedia Publishing House
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Archives of Medical Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.archivesofmedicalscience.com/Can-the-POLARS-tool-accurately-predict-low-anterior-resection-syndrome-in-rectal,110949,0,2.html |
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| author | Paweł Bogacki Jan Krzak Tomasz Gach Wojciech Szwed Mirosław Szura |
| author_facet | Paweł Bogacki Jan Krzak Tomasz Gach Wojciech Szwed Mirosław Szura |
| author_sort | Paweł Bogacki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction
Radical rectal cancer resection can lead to a long-term bowel function impairment known as low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). It remains unclear how to determine which patients are at a higher risk of developing LARS post-surgery. The POLARS tool was designed to predict the onset and severity of LARS in rectal cancer patients after surgery. The study aimed to assess the accuracy of POLARS in predicting the onset of LARS.
Material and methods
A total of 66 rectal cancer patients treated laparoscopically between January 2016 and December 2017 were included in this retrospective study. Using POLARS, the predictive value for the occurrence of LARS was documented. During an average 17-month follow-up period, the bowel function of the patients was assessed using the dedicated LARS questionnaire. The predicted and actual scores were then compared.
Results
Study participants included 36 women (54.5%) and 30 men (45.5%), with a mean age of 62.55 years (standard deviation: 10.2; range: 37–81). The mean predicted score according to POLARS was 24.5 (i.e. category “minor LARS”), and the mean actual score in the follow-up period was 16.42 (“no LARS” category). In only 39% of patients, the predicted LARS category was the same as the actual LARS category assessed by the questionnaire. Worse bowel function than reported at follow-up was predicted in 75% of all mispredictions.
Conclusions
POLARS did not prove to be accurate in predicting the risk and severity of LARS in these patients, although the average numbers appear promising. Further evaluation of the POLARS tool using a larger cohort is needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:47:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4974b3db7fec4bd6b9a78e5852c1fd8a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1734-1922 1896-9151 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:47:18Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | Termedia Publishing House |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Archives of Medical Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-4974b3db7fec4bd6b9a78e5852c1fd8a2023-12-01T09:52:58ZengTermedia Publishing HouseArchives of Medical Science1734-19221896-91512019-09-0119236537010.5114/aoms.2019.87760110949Can the POLARS tool accurately predict low anterior resection syndrome in rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic resection?Paweł Bogacki0Jan Krzak1Tomasz Gach2Wojciech Szwed3Mirosław Szura4Department of Experimental and Clinical Surgery, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, PolandDepartment of Surgery, South Jutland Hospital, Aabenraa, DenmarkDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Surgery, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, PolandDepartment of General and Oncological Surgery, St John Grande Hospital, Krakow, PolandDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Surgery, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, PolandIntroduction Radical rectal cancer resection can lead to a long-term bowel function impairment known as low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). It remains unclear how to determine which patients are at a higher risk of developing LARS post-surgery. The POLARS tool was designed to predict the onset and severity of LARS in rectal cancer patients after surgery. The study aimed to assess the accuracy of POLARS in predicting the onset of LARS. Material and methods A total of 66 rectal cancer patients treated laparoscopically between January 2016 and December 2017 were included in this retrospective study. Using POLARS, the predictive value for the occurrence of LARS was documented. During an average 17-month follow-up period, the bowel function of the patients was assessed using the dedicated LARS questionnaire. The predicted and actual scores were then compared. Results Study participants included 36 women (54.5%) and 30 men (45.5%), with a mean age of 62.55 years (standard deviation: 10.2; range: 37–81). The mean predicted score according to POLARS was 24.5 (i.e. category “minor LARS”), and the mean actual score in the follow-up period was 16.42 (“no LARS” category). In only 39% of patients, the predicted LARS category was the same as the actual LARS category assessed by the questionnaire. Worse bowel function than reported at follow-up was predicted in 75% of all mispredictions. Conclusions POLARS did not prove to be accurate in predicting the risk and severity of LARS in these patients, although the average numbers appear promising. Further evaluation of the POLARS tool using a larger cohort is needed.https://www.archivesofmedicalscience.com/Can-the-POLARS-tool-accurately-predict-low-anterior-resection-syndrome-in-rectal,110949,0,2.htmlquality of liferectal cancerlarslower anterior resectionpolars |
| spellingShingle | Paweł Bogacki Jan Krzak Tomasz Gach Wojciech Szwed Mirosław Szura Can the POLARS tool accurately predict low anterior resection syndrome in rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic resection? Archives of Medical Science quality of life rectal cancer lars lower anterior resection polars |
| title | Can the POLARS tool accurately predict low anterior resection syndrome in rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic resection? |
| title_full | Can the POLARS tool accurately predict low anterior resection syndrome in rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic resection? |
| title_fullStr | Can the POLARS tool accurately predict low anterior resection syndrome in rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic resection? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can the POLARS tool accurately predict low anterior resection syndrome in rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic resection? |
| title_short | Can the POLARS tool accurately predict low anterior resection syndrome in rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic resection? |
| title_sort | can the polars tool accurately predict low anterior resection syndrome in rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic resection |
| topic | quality of life rectal cancer lars lower anterior resection polars |
| url | https://www.archivesofmedicalscience.com/Can-the-POLARS-tool-accurately-predict-low-anterior-resection-syndrome-in-rectal,110949,0,2.html |
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