Trans-perineal minimally invasive approach during extralevator abdominoperineal excision for advanced low rectal cancer: A retrospective cohort study

• Main Authors: Jia Gang Han, Zhen Jun Wang, Guang Hui Wei, Zhi Wei Zhai, Bao Cheng Zhao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020-08-01
• Series: Asian Journal of Surgery
• Subjects: Rectal cancer; Extralevator abdominoperineal excision; Trans-perineal minimally invasive approach; Bottom up; Transanal TME
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1015958419308358

Background: This study is to evaluate trans-perineal minimally invasive approach for extralevator abdominoperineal excision (TP-ELAPE) in a synchronous lithotomy position for locally advanced low rectal cancer. Methods: Between May 2013 and February 2016, 14 patients with locally advanced low rectal cancer underwent TP-ELAPE for the perineal phase of extralevator abdominoperineal excision, and 18 patients underwent conventional ELAPE. Results: There was no positive circumferential resection margin in both groups. Patients who received TP-ELAPE had similar bowel perforation rate (7.1% vs. 5.6%, p = 1.000), longer transperineal operative time (100 vs. 40 min, p < 0.001) and higher surgical difficulty visual analog scale (VAS) scores (6 vs. 2, p < 0.001), while had shorter total procedure time (215 vs. 260 min, p = 0.015), lower VAS pain scores on day 1 postoperatively (5 vs. 6.5, p = 0.049), shorter postoperative anus exhausting time (22 h vs 28 h, p = 0.006), and shorter postoperative hospital stay (11.5 d vs 13.5d, p = 0.028) compared with patients who received conventional ELAPE. There was no local recurrence with median follow-up time of 53 months in the TP-ELAPE group and 51 months in the conventional ELAPE group. There were no differences for disease-free survival (p = 0.835) and overall survival (p = 0.829) between groups. Conclusions: TP-ELAPE approach in the synchronous lithotomy position might be a feasible approach for low rectal cancer, while ensuring a radical and safe surgical procedure.