Translation of the International Consensus Definition of LARS Into a Bowl Dysfunction Severity Scoring Tool (New LARS Score)

Six out of ten patients have significant bowel problems in the first 12 months after surgery to remove their rectum (last bit of bowel), with as many as 4 out of 10 having longer term issues. This is an operation which is most commonly performed to treat bowel cancer. Bowel problems can include having to rush to the toilet, having accidents or leakage into the underwear or difficulty fully emptying the bowels. This condition is called Low Anterior Resection Syndrome, or 'LARS' for short. The definition of Low Anterior Resection Syndrome was developed in 2020 with patient involvement throughout the process so it accurately captures the real-world experience of LARS. This definition is to be used to create a new scoring system to measure the severity of LARS.

The aim of this study is to transform this new definition into a scoring tool which can be used to assess the severity of Low Anterior Resection Syndrome and investigate how well various treatments work for LARS. It is vital to have patients involved throughout this work to ensure that the new score gives an accurate picture of the severity of these symptoms.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 18 years or older
• Able and willing to provide informed consent
• Undergone an anterior resection for cancer, with current bowel continuity

Exclusion criteria

• Currently undergoing adjuvant therapy
• Recurrent or metastatic disease
• Unable to participate to complete study procedures (Due to intellectual or cognitive impairment; Due to insufficient English-language skills (oral and written))