Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) refers to a constellation of symptoms patients may experience after surgery for rectal cancer. This can range from increased frequency and urgency to debilitating incontinence in severe cases. Up to 80% of patients with low rectal cancer are affected by LARS, and although some patients’ bowel function will improve over time, others will have lifelong problems leading to a poor quality of life.
Management of LARS is often suboptimal for multiple reasons, including inadequate counselling of patients pre-operatively, failure to discuss and recognise LARS symptoms during follow-up and uncertainty about the best management options.
Understanding and Managing Bowel Dysfunction after Rectal Cancer Surgery
A one-day workshop was held on the 30th April 2025 to empower clinicians to improve their management of patients with LARS through gaining understanding of it’s aetiology, investigation and optimal management.
The workshop was aimed at surgeons, specialist nurses, oncologists, gastroenterologists, and any other clinicians who look after patients with rectal cancer.
Content was what I hoped it would be and helped me understand a lot more about LARS and raised my awareness of incorporating it into routine telephone call enquiries.
Transformative. I have better understanding of LARS and feel more confident to have a discussion with patient.
Good range of topics covered, nice to hear advice of different backgrounds to draw on various experience in group discussions.
So relevant to practice to help support patients with LARS – really useful tips discussed.