Patients and study setting
RECTAL ADENOCARCINOMA
The study patients were operated on in four Finnish hospitals (Oulu and Tampere University Hospitals, Seinäjoki and Keski-Suomi Central Hospitals). All adult (> 18 years old) patients operated on with curative intent by anterior resection with total mesorectal excision and protective loop-ileostomy for rectal adenocarcinoma, were considered for inclusion (Fig. 
Flow Chart