• Functional outcome as measured by a validated questionnaire
  

• Quality life as measured by a validated questionnaire
  
• Anorectal function as assessed by anorectal manometry and barostat measurements
  

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Compare functional outcome in patients with mid- or distal rectal adenocarcinoma when treated with J-pouch coloanal anastomosis vs side-to-end coloanal anastomosis after preoperative radiotherapy and total mesorectal excision.

Secondary

• Compare the quality of life of patients treated with these procedures.
• Compare anorectal function in patients treated with these procedures.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to participating center and gender. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

• Arm I: Patients undergo total mesorectal excision followed by a J-pouch coloanal anastomosis.
• Arm II: Patients undergo total mesorectal excision followed by a side-to-end coloanal anastomosis.

In both arms, patients receive a temporary ileostomy. The ileostomy is closed after 1 week provided recovery is uneventful and no radiological signs of anastomotic leakage are detected. If early closure is not possible, the ileostomy is closed after 6-8 weeks.

Functional outcome, quality of life, and anorectal function are assessed before surgery and at 4 and 12 months after surgery.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A minimum of 100 patients (50 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study.