Comparing short-term outcomes of robot-assisted and conventional laparoscopic total mesorectal excision surgery for rectal cancer in elderly patients

BACKGROUND Da Vinci Robotics-assisted total mesorectal excision(TME)surgery for rectal cancer is becoming more widely used.There is no strong evidence that roboticassisted surgery and laparoscopic surgery have similar outcomes in elderly patients with TME for rectal cancer.AIM To determine the improved oncological outcomes and short-term efficacy of robot-assisted surgery in elderly patients undergoing TME surgery.METHODS A retrospective study of the clinical pathology and follow-up of elderly patients who underwent TME surgery at the Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology at the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine was conducted from March 2020 through September 2023.The patients were divided into a robotassisted group(the R-TME group)and a laparoscopic group(the L-TME group),and the short-term efficacy of the two groups was compared.RESULTS There were 45 elderly patients(≥60 years)in the R-TME group and 50 elderly patients(≥60 years)in the L-TME group.There were no differences in demographics,conversion rates,or postoperative complication rates.The L-TME group had a longer surgical time than the R-TME group[145(125,187.5)vs 180(148.75,206.25)min,P=0.005),and the first postoperative meal time in the L-TME group was longer than that in the R-TME(4 vs 3 d,P=0.048).Among the sex and body mass index(BMI)subgroups,the R-TME group had better out-comes than did the L-TME group in terms of operation time(P=0.042)and intraoperative assessment of bleeding(P=0.042).In the high BMI group,catheter removal occurred earlier in the R-TME group than in the L-TME group(3 vs 4 d,P=0.001),and autonomous voiding function was restored.CONCLUSION The curative effect and short-term efficacy of robot-assisted TME surgery for elderly patients with rectal cancer are similar to those of laparoscopic TME surgery;however,robotic-assisted surgery has better short-term outcomes for individuals with risk factors such as obesity and pelvic stenosis.Optimizing the learning curve can shorten the operation time,reduce the recovery time of gastrointestinal function,and improve the prognosis.

Beyond total mesorectal excision: The emerging role of minimally invasive surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer

Multivisceral resection and/or pelvic exenteration represents the only potential curative treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer(LARC);however,it poses significant technical challenges,which account for the high risk of morbidity and mortality associated with the procedure.As complete histopathologic resection is the most important determinant of patient outcomes,LARC often requires an extended resection beyond the total mesorectal excision plane to obtain clear re-section margins.In an era when laparoscopic surgery and robot-assisted surgery are becoming commonplace,the optimal approach to extensive pelvic inter-ventions remains controversial.However,acceptance of the suitability of mini-mally invasive surgery is slowly gaining traction.Nonetheless,there is still a lack of evidence in the literature about minimally invasive approaches in multiple and extensive surgical resections,highlighting the need for research studies to explore,validate,and develop this issue.This editorial aims to provide a critical overview of the currently available applications and challenges of minimally invasive abdo-minopelvic surgery for LARC.Furthermore,we discuss recent developments in the field of robotic surgery for LARC,with a specific focus on new innovations and emerging frontiers.

Use of artificial intelligence in total mesorectal excision in rectal cancer surgery: State of the art and perspectives

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer is a major public health problem,with 1.9 million new cases and 953000 deaths worldwide in 2020.Total mesorectal excision(TME)is the standard of care for the treatment of rectal cancer and is crucial to prevent local recurrence,but it is a technically challenging surgery.The use of artificial intelligence(AI)could help improve the performance and safety of TME surgery.AIM To review the literature on the use of AI and machine learning in rectal surgery and potential future developments.METHODS Online scientific databases were searched for articles on the use of AI in rectal cancer surgery between 2020 and 2023.RESULTS The literature search yielded 876 results,and only 13 studies were selected for review.The use of AI in rectal cancer surgery and specifically in TME is a rapidly evolving field.There are a number of different AI algorithms that have been developed for use in TME,including algorithms for instrument detection,anatomical structure identification,and image-guided navigation systems.CONCLUSION AI has the potential to revolutionize TME surgery by providing real-time surgical guidance,preventing complic-ations,and improving training.However,further research is needed to fully understand the benefits and risks of AI in TME surgery.

Evolution of transanal total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer:From top to bottom

The gold standard for curative treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer involves radical resection with a total mesorectal excision(TME). TME is the most effective treatment strategy to reduce local recurrence and improve survival outcomes regardless of the surgical platform used. However, there are associated morbidities, functional consequences, and quality of life(QoL) issues associated with TME; these risks must be considered during the modern-day multidisciplinary treatment for rectal cancer. This has led to the development of new surgical techniques to improve patient, oncologic, and QoL outcomes. In this work, we review the evolution of TME to the transanal total mesorectal excision(TaTME) through more traditional minimally invasive platforms. The review the development, safety and feasibility, proposed benefits and risks of the procedure, implementation and education models, and future direction for research and implementation of the TaTME in colorectal surgery. While satisfactory short-term results have been reported, the procedure is in its infancy, and long term outcomes and definitive results from controlled trials are pending.As evidence for safety and feasibility accumulates,structured training programs to standardize teaching,training, and safe expansion will aid the safe spread of the TaTME.

Total mesorectal excision for mid and low rectal cancer: laparoscopic vs robotic surgery

AIM: To compare the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic and robotic surgery for middle and low rectal cancer.METHODS: This is a retrospective study on a prospectively collected database containing 111 patients who underwent minimally invasive rectal resection with total mesorectal excision (TME) with curative intent between January 2008 and December 2014 (robot, n = 53; laparoscopy, n = 58). The patients all had a diagnosis of middle and low rectal adenocarcinoma with stage I-III disease. The median follow-up period was 37.4 mo. Perioperative results, morbidity a pathological data were evaluated and compared. The 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were calculated and compared.RESULTS: Patients were comparable in terms of preoperative and demographic parameters. The median surgery time was 192 min for laparoscopic TME (L-TME) and 342 min for robotic TME (R-TME) (P < 0.001). There were no differences found in the rates of conversion to open surgery and morbidity. The patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery stayed in the hospital two days longer than the robotic group patients (8 d for L-TME and 6 d for R-TME, P < 0.001). The pathologic evaluation showed a higher number of harvested lymph nodes in the robotic group (18 for R-TME, 11 for L-TME, P < 0.001) and a shorter distal resection margin for laparoscopic patients (1.5 cm for L-TME, 2.5 cm for R-TME, P < 0.001). The three-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were similar between groups.CONCLUSION: Both L-TME and R-TME achieved acceptable clinical and oncologic outcomes. The robotic technique showed some advantages in rectal surgery that should be validated by further studies.

Predicting prognosis of rectal cancer patients with total mesorectal excision using molecular markers

AIM:To explore the prognostic variables in rectal cancer patients undergoing curative total mesorectal excision and the effect of postoperative chemotherapy in advanced rectal cancer. METHODS:A total of 259 consecutive rectal cancer patients treated with curative total mesorectal excision between 1999 and 2004 were collected. p53,p21,PCNA,and CD44v6 were examined using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The correlation between clinicopathological or molecular variables and clinical outcomes,including local recurrence,metastasis,disease-free survival and overall survival,was analyzed. RESULTS:The median follow-up was 44 mo. Five-year survival rates and 5-year disease free survival rates were 75.43% and 70.32%,respectively. Multi-analysis revealed TNM staging,preoperative CEA,and CD44v6 level were independent risk factors predicting overall survival or disease free survival. The hazard ratio of peroperative CEA was 2.65 (95% CI 1.4-5) and 3.10 (95% CI 1.37-6.54) for disease free survival and overall survival,respectively. The hazard ratio of CD44v6 was 1.93 (95% CI 1.04-3.61) and 2.21 (95% CI 1.01-4.88) for disease free survival and overall survival,respectively. TNM staging was the only risk factor predicting local recurrence. Postoperative chemotherapy without radiotherapy did not improve patients' outcome. CONCLUSION:TNM staging,preoperative CEA and CD44v6 were independent prognostic factors for rectal cancer patients with total mesorectal excision. Postoperative chemotherapy may be only used together with radiotherapy for rectal cancer patients.

Systematic review of oncological outcomes following laparoscopic vs open total mesorectal excision

AIM: To systematically analyze the randomized trials comparing the oncological and clinical effectiveness of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision(LTME) vs open total mesorectal excision(OTME) in the management of rectal cancer.METHODS: Published randomized, controlled trials comparing the oncological and clinical effectiveness of LTME vs OTME in the management of rectal cancer were retrieved from the standard electronic medical databases. The data of included randomized, controlled trials was extracted and then analyzed according to the principles of meta-analysis using RevMan? statistical software. The combined outcome of the binary variables was expressed as odds ratio(OR) and the combined outcome of the continuous variables waspresented in the form of standardized mean difference(SMD). RESULTS: Data from eleven randomized, controlled trials on 2143 patients were retrieved from the electronic databases. There was a trend towards the higher risk of surgical site infection(OR = 0.66; 95%CI: 0.44-1.00; z = 1.94; P < 0.05), higher risk of incomplete total mesorectal resection(OR = 0.62; 95%CI: 0.43-0.91; z = 2.49; P < 0.01) and prolonged length of hospital stay(SMD,-1.59; 95%CI:-0.86--0.25; z = 4.22; P < 0.00001) following OTME. However, the oncological outcomes like number of harvested lymph nodes, tumour recurrence and risk of positive resection margins were statistically similar in both groups. In addition, the clinical outcomes such as operative complications, anastomotic leak and all-cause mortality were comparable between both approaches of mesorectal excision.CONCLUSION: LTME appears to have clinically and oncologically measurable advantages over OTME in patients with primary rectal cancer in both short term and long term follow ups.

Laparoscopy-assisted transanal total mesorectal excision for lower rectal cancer:A feasible and innovative technique

BACKGROUND Transanal total mesorectal excision(taTME)is a new technique with many potential technical advantages.Laparoscopy-assisted taTME is a combination of transabdominal taTME and transluminal endoscopic surgery taTME.Laparoscopy-assisted taTME is a combination of techniques such as minimally invasive surgery,intersphincter-assisted resection,natural orifice extraction,ta minimally invasive surgery,and ultralow-level preservation of the anus.AIM To verify the feasibility and safety of an innovative technique of taTME for treatment of cancer located in the lower rectum.METHODS From January 2016 to March 2018,we attempted to perform laparoscopy-assisted taTME surgery in 24 patients with lower rectal cancer.RESULTS The new technique of laparoscopy-assisted taTME was successfully performed in all 24 patients.Mean operating time was 310.0 min and mean intraoperative blood loss was 69.1 mL.The mean time to passing of first flatus was 3.1 d,and mean postoperative hospital stay was 9.2 d.Two patients were given postoperative analgesics due to anal pain.Twenty-three patients were able to walk in first 2 d,and five patients had postoperative complications.CONCLUSION Laparoscopy-assisted taTME is suitable for selected patients with lower rectal cancer,and this technique is worthy of further recommendation.

Sphincter-preserving R0 total mesorectal excision with resection of internal genitalia combined with pre-or postoperative chemoradiation for T4 rectal cancer in females

AIM: To evaluate the impact of chemoradiation admi- nistered pre- or postoperatively on prognosis in females following R0 extended resection with sphincter- preserving total mesorectal excision (TME) for locally advanced rectal cancer and to assess the association between chemoradiation and intra- and postoperative variables. METHODS: Twenty-one females were treated for locally advanced but preoperatively assessed as primarily resectable rectal cancer involving reproductive organs. Anterior resection with TME and excision of internal genitalia was combined with neo- or adjuvant chemoradiation. Two-year disease-free survival analysis was performed with the Kaplan-Meier method and log- rank test. The association between chemoradiation and other variables was evaluated with the Fisher’s exact test and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Survival rate decreased in anaemic females (51.5% vs 57.4%), in patients older than 60 years (41.8% vs 66.7%) with poorly differentiated cancers (50.0% vs 55.6%) and tumors located ≤ 7 cm from the anal verge (42.9% vs 68.1%) but with the lack of importance. Patients with negative lymph nodes and women chemoradiated preoperatively had significantly favourable prognosis (85.7% vs 35.7%; P= 0.03 and 80.0% vs 27.3%; P = 0.01, respectively). Preoperative chemoradiation compared to adjuvant radiochemotherapy was not significantly associated with the duration of surgery, incidence of intraoperative bowel perforation and blood loss ≥ 1 L, rate of postoperative bladder and anorectal dysfunction, and minimal distal resection margin. It significantly influenced minimal radial margin (mean 4.2 mm vs 1.1 mm; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Despite involving internal genitalia, long-term disease-free survival and sphincter preservation may be achieved with combined-modality therapy for females with T4 locally advanced rectal carcinoma. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation does not compromise functional results and may significantly improve oncological outcomes probably due to enhanced radial clearance.

Robotic transanal total mesorectal excision:Is the future now?

Total mesorectal excision(TME)is the standard surgical treatment for the curative radical resection of rectal cancers.Minimally invasive TME has been gaining ground favored by the continuous technological advancements.New procedures,such as transanal TME(TaTME),have been introduced to overcome some technical limitations,especially in low rectal tumors,obese patients,and/or narrow pelvis.The earliest TaTME reports showed promising results when compared with the conventional laparoscopic TME.However,recent publications raised concerns regarding the high rates of anastomotic leaks or local recurrences observed in national series.Robotic TaTME(R-TaTME)has been proposed as a novel technique incorporating the potential benefits of a perineal dissection together with precise control of the distal margins,and also offers all those advantages provided by the robotic technology in terms of improved precision and dexterity.Encouraging short-term results have been reported for R-TaTME,but further studies are needed to assess the real role of the new technique in the long-term oncological or functional outcomes.The present review aims to provide a general overview of R-TaTME by analyzing the body of the available literature,with a special focus on the potential benefits,harms,and future perspectives for this novel approach.

Meta-analysis of transanal vs laparoscopic total mesorectal excision of low rectal cancer:Importance of appropriate patient selection

BACKGROUND Achieving a clear resection margins for low rectal cancer is technically challenging.Transanal approach to total mesorectal excision(TME)was introduced in order to address the challenges associated with the laparoscopic approach in treating low rectal cancers.However,previous meta-analyses have included mixed population with mid and low rectal tumours when comparing both approaches which has made the interpretation of the real differences between two approaches in treating low rectal cancer difficult.AIM To investigate the outcomes of transanal TME(TaTME)and laparoscopic TME(LaTME)in patients with low rectal cancer.METHODS A comprehensive systematic review of comparative studies was performed in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses standards.Intraoperative and postoperative complications,anastomotic leak,R0 resection,completeness of mesorectal excision,circumferential resection margin(CRM),distal resection margin(DRM),harvested lymph nodes,and operation time were the investigated outcome measures.RESULTS We included twelve comparative studies enrolling 969 patients comparing TaTME(n=969)and LaTME(n=476)in patients with low rectal tumours.TaTME was associated with significantly lower risk of postoperative complications(OR:0.74,P=0.04),anastomotic leak(OR:0.59,P=0.02),and conversion to an open procedure(OR:0.29,P=0.002)in comparison with LaTME.Moreover,the rate of R0 resection was significantly higher in the TaTME group(OR:1.96,P=0.03).Nevertheless,TaTME and LaTME were comparable in terms of rate of intraoperative complications(OR:1.87;P=0.23),completeness of mesoractal excision(OR:1.57,P=0.15),harvested lymph nodes(MD:-0.05,P=0.96),DRM(MD:-0.94;P=0.17),CRM(MD:1.08,P=0.17),positive CRM(OR:0.64,P=0.11)and procedure time(MD:-6.99 min,P=0.45).CONCLUSION Our findings indicated that for low rectal tumours,TaTME is associated with better clinical and short term oncological outcomes compared to LaTME.More randomised controlled trials are required to confirm these findings and to evaluate long term oncological and functional outcomes.

Simple instruments facilitating achievement of transanal total mesorectal excision in male patients

AIM To assess the efficacy of a modified approach with transanal total mesorectal excision(ta TME) using simple customized instruments in male patients with low rectal cancer.METHODS A total of 115 male patients with low rectal cancer from December 2006 to August 2015 were retrospectively studied. All patients had a bulky tumor(tumor diameter ≥ 40 mm). Forty-one patients(group A) underwent a classical approach of transabdominal total mesorectal excision(TME) and transanal intersphincteric resection(ISR), and the other 74 patients(group B) underwent a modified approach with transabdominal TME,transanal ISR, and ta TME. Some simple instruments including modified retractors and an anal dilator with a papilionaceous fixture were used to perform ta TME. The operative time, quality of mesorectal excision, circumferential resection margin, local recurrence, and postoperative survival were evaluated.RESULTS All 115 patients had successful sphincter preservation. The operative time in group B(240 min, range: 160-330 min) was significantly shorter than that in group A(280 min, range: 200-360 min; P = 0.000). Co m pa r e d w it h g r o up A, m o r e c o m p le t e d is t a l mesorectum and total mesorectum were achieved in group B(100% vs 75.6%, P = 0.000; 90.5% vs 70.7%, P = 0.008, respectively). After 46.1 ± 25.6 mo followup, group B had a lower local recurrence rate and higher disease-free survival rate compared with group A, but these differences were not statistically significant(5.4% vs 14.6%, P = 0.093; 79.5% vs 65.1%, P = 0.130). CONCLUSION Retrograde ta TME with simple customized instruments can achieve high-quality TME, and it might be an effective and economical alternative for male patients with bulky tumors.

Real-time in vivo distal margin selection using confocal laser endomicroscopy in transanal total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer

BACKGROUND Transanal total mesorectal excision(TaTME)allows patients with ultralow rectal cancer to be treated with sphincter-saving surgery.However,accurate delineation of the distal resection margin(DRM),which is essential to achieve R0 resection for low rectal cancer in TaTME,is technically demanding.AIM To assess the feasibility of optical biopsy using probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy(pCLE)to select the DRM during TaTME for low rectal cancer.METHODS A total of 43 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with low rectal cancer and scheduled for TaTME were prospectively enrolled from January 2019 to January 2021.pCLE was used to determine the distal edge of the tumor as well as the DRM during surgery.The final pathological report was used as the gold standard.The diagnostic accuracy of pCLE examination was calculated.RESULTS A total of 86 pCLE videos of 43 patients were included in the analyses.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of real-time pCLE examination were 90.00%[95%confidence interval(CI):76.34%-97.21%],86.96%(95%CI:73.74%-95.06%)and 88.37%(95%CI:79.65%-94.28%),respectively.The accuracy of blinded pCLE reinterpretation was 86.05%(95%CI:76.89%-92.58%).Furthermore,our results show satisfactory interobserver agreement(κ=0.767,standard error=0.069)for the detection of cancer tissue by pCLE.There were no positive DRMs(≤1 mm)in this study.The median DRM was 7 mm[interquartile range(IQR)=5-10 mm].The median Wexner score was 5(IQR=3-6)at 6 mo after stoma closure.CONCLUSION Real-time in vivo pCLE examination is feasible and safe for selecting the DRM during TaTME for low rectal cancer(clinical trial registration number:NCT04016948).

Transanal vs laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer:a multicenter randomized phase III clinical trial(TaLaR trial)protocol

Background:Total mesorectum excision(TME)is considered the standard surgical procedure for rectal-cancer treatment.Transanal TME(taTME)is a new procedure to treat low rectal cancer.Some published studies have proven that taTME can provide a better-quality resected specimen in low-rectal-cancer patients in comparison to the transabdominal procedure,yet long-term outcomes must be investigated.We designed this non-inferiority trial(TaLaR trial)to compare short-term and long-term outcomes between taTME and laparoscopic TME(lapTME)for rectal cancer.Methods:The TaLaR trial is a phase III open-labeled multicenter randomized-controlled trial.Patients who are diagnosed with rectal cancer with no more than T3N2 stage,and with the tumor location below the peritoneal reflection by magnetic resonance imaging scan,digital rectal examination,or colonoscopy,qualify for this study.After calculating,a total of 1,114 patients(557 per group)will be randomly allocated to either the taTME or the lapTME group.Primary endpoints are the 3-year disease-free survival(DFS)rate and the 5-year overall survival(OS)rate.Secondary endpoints include specimen quality,perioperative results,pelvic and anal function,and quality of life.Discussion:The TaLaR trial is expected to clarify whether taTME can achieve comparable oncological outcomes,as well as improve specimen quality and recovery conditions in rectal-cancer patients compared with lapTME.

Total mesorectal excision with or without preoperative chemoradiotherapy for resectable mid/low rectal cancer: a long-term analysis of a prospective, single-center, randomized trial

Background:The preliminary results of our phase II randomized trial reported comparable functional sphincter pres-ervation rates and short-term survival outcomes between patients undergoing total mesorectal excision(TME)with or without preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy(CCRT).We now report the long-term results after a median follow-up of 71 months.Methods:Between March 23,2008 and August 2,2012,192 patients with T3-T4 or node-positive,resectable,mid/low rectal adenocarcinoma were randomly assigned to receive TME with or without preoperative CCRT.The following endpoints were assessed:cumulative rates of local recurrence and distant metastasis,disease-free survival(DFS),and overall survival(OS).Results:The data of 184 eligible patients were analyzed:94 patients in the TME group and 90 patients in the CCRT+TME group.In the whole cohort,the 5-year DFS and OS rates were 84.8%and 85.1%,respectively.The 5-year DFS rates were 85.2%in the CCRT+TME group and 84.3%in the TME group(P=0.969),and the 5-year OS rates were 83.5%in the CCRT+TME group and 86.5%in the TME group(P=0.719).The 5-year cumulative rates of local recur-rence were 6.3%and 5.0%(P=0.681),and the 5-year cumulative rates of distant metastasis were 15.0%and 15.7%(P=0.881)in the CCRT+TME and TME groups,respectively.No significant improvements in 5-year DFS and OS were observed with CCRT by subgroup analyses.Conclusions:Both treatment strategies yielded similar long-term outcomes.A selective policy towards preoperative CCRT is thus recommended for rectal cancer patients if high-quality TME surgery and enhanced chemotherapy can be performed.

Male gender is associated with an increased risk of anastomotic leak in rectal cancer patients after total mesorectal excision

Background:The impact of a patient’s gender on the development of anastomotic leak(AL)in rectal cancer patients following total mesorectal excision(TME)remains controversial.The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between patients’gender and the risk of AL.Methods:All rectal cancer patients following TME with a primary anastomosis during the study period from 2010 to 2014 were examined.Comparisons of the post-operative AL incidence rate between male and female patients were performed.Results:Of all patients examined(n¼956),587(61.4%)were males and 369(38.6%)were females.Male patients were more likely to have a history of smoking and drinking alcohol,but less likely to have a history of abdominal surgery compared to female patients.A higher incidence rate of pre-operative bowel obstruction and larger tumor volume in male patients was observed in our study.Of all the patients,81(8.5%)developed post-operative AL.More male patients(n¼62,10.6%)suffered from AL than females(n¼19,5.1%)(P¼0.003).Multivariate logistic regression analyses confirmed the association between male gender and AL[odds ratio(OR):2.41,95%confidence interval(CI):1.37–4.23,P¼0.002].Similar results were also obtained in patients who underwent laparoscopic TME(OR:2.11,95%CI:1.15–3.89,P¼0.016).Conclusions:Male patents were found to have an increased risk for AL following TME with a primary anastomosis.A temporary protecting stoma may help to protect the anastomosis and lessen the risk for AL especially in male patients.

Transanal total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer:a multicentric cohort study

Background:Transanal total mesorectal excision(taTME)has recently emerged as a promising novel surgical procedure for rectal cancer.It is believed to hold the potential advantage of providing better access to mobilize the distal rectum and achieving better pathologic results.This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of taTME for rectal cancer and summarize the preliminary experience in 10 Chinese hospitals.Methods:A total of 211 patients were enrolled in this study.Variables for evaluation of safety,feasibility,and oncologic outcomes were retrospectively collected and analysed.Results:The median distance between the tumor and the anal verge was 5.9cm(range,1.5–12 cm).The median operating time was 280 min(range,70–600 min)and the median estimated intra-operative blood loss was 50mL(range,10–1,500 mL).The overall rate of complication was 27.9%.Among the 211 patients,175(82.9%)had complete TME and 33(15.6%)had near complete TME.The circumferential resection margin was negative in 97.7%of patients.The patients were followed for a median of 35months(range,2–86months).There was 7.6%(16)mortality,6.2%(13)had local recurrence,and 12.8%(27)had systemic recurrence.Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that 1-,2-,and 3-year disease-free survival rates were 94.8%,89.3%,and 80.2%,respectively,and 1-,2-,and 3-year OS rates were 97.4%,95.7%,and 92.9%,respectively.Conclusions:Although limited by its retrospective nature,taTME was safe and feasible in selected patients.Future work with rigorous data recording is warranted.

Neoadjuvant therapy followed by local excision and two-stage total mesorectal excision:a new strategy for sphincter preservation in locally advanced ultra-low rectal cancer

Background:With the increased usage of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy,improved surgical technique and stapling devices,sphincter-preserving resection has become more frequent for patients with rectal cancer.However,as for locally advanced ultra-low rectal cancer,sphincter-preservation is still facing an enormous challenge.Objective:To introduce an NLT strategy of sphincter-preservation-neoadjuvant therapy(NT)followed by local excision(LE)and two-stage total mesorectal excision(TME)-into the treatment of locally advanced ultra-low rectal cancer(lesions with anal sphincter invasion).Methods:From October 2010 to October 2011,nine patients with locally advanced rectal cancer located less than 3 cm from the anal verge were treated by the NLT strategy.All patients had shown good clinical response to NT.The LE procedure was carried transanally 6-8 weeks after completion of the NT.TME was performed to dissect mesorectal lymph nodes 4-6 weeks after LE.Results:Of the nine patients,the lesion was assessed as T2 in two,T3 in five,and T4 in two before NT,and lymph node metastasis was detected in five patients.The median distance from the tumor to the anal verge was 2.5 cm(range:1-3 cm).The median follow-up was 27 months(range:24-34 months).No distant metastasis was detected.Only one patient(11.1%)developed local recurrence at 12 months post-operatively and then underwent abdomino-perineal resection.The remaining eight patients had preserved long-term continence and the median Wexner score at two years post-operation was 4(range:2-6).Conclusion:The new NLT strategy can achieve sphincter-preservation in some patients with ultra-low rectal cancer,with favorable oncological outcome and preservation of normal anal sphincter function.

Clinical application of eight-zone laparoscopic dissection strategy for rectal cancer:Experience and discussion

BACKGROUND The incidence of rectal cancer is increasing worldwide,and surgery remains the primary treatment modality.With the advent of total mesorectal excision(TME)technique,the probability of tumor recurrence post-surgery has significantly decreased.Surgeons'focus has gradually shifted towards minimizing the impact of surgery on urinary and sexual functions.Among these concerns,the optimal dissection of the rectal lateral ligaments and preservation of the pelvic floor neuro-vascular bundle have become critical.To explore the optimal surgical technique for TME and establish a standardized surgical protocol to minimize the impact on urinary and sexual functions,we propose the eight-zone dissection strategy for pelvic floor anatomy.AIM To compare the differences in surgical specimen integrity and postoperative quality of life satisfaction between the traditional pelvic floor dissection strategy and the innovative eight-zone dissection strategy.METHODS We analyzed the perioperative data of patients who underwent laparoscopic radical resection of rectal cancer at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University between January 1,2021 and December 1,2023.This study included a total of 218 patients undergoing laparoscopic radical surgery for rectal cancer,among whom 109 patients underwent traditional pelvic floor dissection strategy,and 109 patients received the eight-zone dissection strategy.RESULTS There were no significant differences in general characteristics between the two groups.Patients in the eight-zone dissection group had higher postoperative specimen integrity(88.1%vs 78.0%,P=0.047).At the 3-month followup,patients in the eight-zone surgery group had better scores in urinary issues(6.8±3.3 vs 5.3±2.5,P=0.045)and male sexual desire(2.2±0.6 vs 2.5±0.5,P=0.047)compared to the traditional surgery strategy group.CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that the eight-zone dissection strategy for laparoscopic lateral ligament dissection of rectal cancer is safe and effective.Compared with the traditional pelvic floor dissection strategy,this approach can reduce the risk of nerve injury and minimize the impact on urinary and sexual functions.Therefore,we recommend the clinical application of this strategy to better serve patients with rectal cancer.

Management of lateral pelvic lymph nodes in rectal cancer:Is it time to reach an Agreement?

In this editorial,we proceed to comment on the article by Chua et al,addressing the management of metastatic lateral pelvic lymph nodes(mLLN)in stage II/III rectal cancer patients below the peritoneal reflection.The treatment of this nodal area sparks significant controversy due to the strategic differences followed by Eastern and Western physicians,albeit with a higher degree of convergence in recent years.The dissection of lateral pelvic lymph nodes without neoadjuvant therapy is a standard practice in Eastern countries.In contrast,in the West,preference leans towards opting for neoadjuvant therapy with chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy,that would cover the treatment of this area without the need to add the dissection of these nodes to the total mesorectal excision.In the presence of high-risk nodal characteristics for mLLN related to radiological imaging and lack of response to neoadjuvant therapy,the risk of lateral local recurrence increases,suggesting the appropriate selection of strategies to reduce the risk of recurrence in each patient profile.Despite the heterogeneous and retrospective nature of studies addressing this area,an international consensus is necessary to approach this clinical scenario uniformly.