ABSTRACT
Objective To find a novel operative modality with sphincter preservation in the treatment of middle and low rectal carcinoma. Methods Pull through lower resection was performed on 28 rectal cancer patients. The distance between the anal verge and the lower margin of the tumor was 6～8cm(20 patients) or 8～10cm(8 patients), including 8 patients in Dukes A stage, 16 Dukes B and 4 Dukes C. The resected line from tumor distal margin was 2cm, 3cm, and 4cm, respectively. Results There was no operative death, anastomotic fistula or anastomotic stenosis in these cases. Mean follow up period was 30 months. Local recurrence was found in two cases (7.1%) 18 months after the operation, and 26 cases were cancer free till the end of the follow up. Defecation was satisfactorily controlled 8～12 weeks after the operation. Conclusions Pull through Welch procedure could meet the criterion of the radical resection of rectal carcinoma,and keep the internal and external sphincter muscles intact in the superior lower anterior resection. The normal defecationcan can maintain after the operation due to the preservation of internal and external sphincter muscles.