Details of Abdominal Perineal Resection

Abdominal Perineal Resection (APR) is a surgery to treat anal or rectal cancer. It involves the removal of the lower part of the colon, the rectum and the anus. And another procedure is also required called Colostomy. Colostomy: Because of the removal of the anus and rectum, a new place is needed for stool to leave the body. So, during APR, the lower end of the colon is brought outside the abdomen, usually about two inches away form the belly button. This is called a colostomy. The lining of the colon on the outside of the abdomen is called a stoma. The stoma is pink or red and looks shiny and moist. After the APR, stool leaves the body through the stoma, directly into a colostomy pouch worn over the stoma. This pouch collects gas and stool. No one can know about the colostomy unless revealed by patient themselves.

May include: 

1. Dark or red blood in stool
2. Mucus in stool
3. Narrow stool
4. Abdominal pain
5. Painful bowel movements
6. Iron deficiency anemia
7. A feeling fullness of bowel
8. Unexplained weight loss
9. Weakness or fatigue

Abnormal growth of cells in DNA

1. Complete blood count (CBC).
2. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).
3. Chemistry panel. CT (computed tomography) scan of the chest.
4. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the pelvis.

Surgery:

Open surgery: When one small incision is made on the abdomen, this is called open surgery.

Minimally invasive surgery: When several small incisions are made on the abdomen, and small surgical tools and a video camera are inserted into the incisions to remove the cancer, this is called minimally invasive surgery.

Chemotherapy: This is injecting drugs through veins along with radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy: Which uses high-powered beams to kill cancer cells.

Which may deteriorate:

1. Older age.
2. A personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps.
3. Inflammatory bowel disease.
4. Inherited syndromes.
5. Dietary factors.
6. Diabetes.
7. Smoking.
8. Radiation therapy for previous cancer.