Laparoscopic-assisted transanal total mesorectal excision for middle-low rectal carcinoma: A clinical study of 19 cases

Abstract

Aim: To explore the safety, feasibility and shortterm outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted transanal total mesorectal excision (La-TaTME) of middle-low rectal carcinoma. Materials and Methods: This retrospective research collected and analyzed the clinical data of 19 patients diagnosed with middle and low rectal carcinoma who underwent La-TaTME from August 2015 to February 2017. Results: No case was converted to laparotomy. In none of the enrolled cases, did the circumferential resection margin test positive by histopathology examination. Also, there was no detected residual tumor at the proximal and distal resection margins. The rate of postoperative morbidity was 15.8% (Clavien-Dindo grade 2). During the follow-up period, no local recurrence or metastasis was observed. Conclusion: La-TaTME is a safe alternative to standard laparoscopic TME in middle-low rectal carcinoma when operated by an experienced colorectal surgeon. However, large-scaled randomized multi-centered comparative trials are still needed to further test its oncological effectiveness.