Low Anterior Resection, abbreviated to LAR and more formally referred to as ‘anterior resection of the rectum’ is a type of colectomy (the surgical removal of a part of the bowel), where the sigmoid colon, which is the last section of the colon before it connects to the rectum, is wholly or partially removed along with a section of the upper rectum.
Low Anterior Resection is a common procedure for cancer in the ‘proximal’ i.e. upper two thirds of the rectum, with the main benefit being that the rectal sphincter muscles (the muscles that control the expulsion of faeces from the anus) are not affected.
See also:
- High Anterior Resection
- Ultra Low Anterior Resection
- Small Bowel Resection
- Right Hemi Colectomy
- Left Hemi Colectomy
Other related medical terminology
Proctosigmoidectomy - removal of the sigmoid colon with part or all of the rectum.
Proctocolectomy - removal of the entire colon and the rectum.
Total Colectomy - removal of the entire colon.
Subtotal Colectomy - removal of a section of the colon, or all of the colon but without removing the rectum.
Dr Raaj Chandra consults at Elgar Hill Medical Suites (Box Hill). To book a consultation, call today on (03) 9895 7100.
(03) 9895 7100