International standardization and optimization group for intersphincteric resection (ISOG-ISR): modified Delphi consensus on anatomy, definition, indication, surgical technique, specimen description and functional outcome.

AIM: Intersphincteric resection (ISR) is an oncologically complex operation for very low-lying rectal cancers. Yet, definition, anatomical description, operative indications and operative approaches to ISR are not standardized. The aim of this study was to standardize the definition of ISR by reaching international consensus from the experts in the field. This standardization will allow meaningful comparison in the literature in the future. METHOD: A modified Delphi approach with three rounds of questionnaire was adopted. A total of 29 international experts from 11 countries were recruited for this study. Six domains with a total of 37 statements were examined, including anatomical definition; definition of intersphincteric dissection, intersphincteric resection (ISR) and ultra-low anterior resection (uLAR); indication for ISR; surgical technique of ISR; specimen description of ISR; and functional outcome assessment protocol. RESULTS: Three rounds of questionnaire were performed (response rate 100%, 89.6%, 89.6%). Agreement (≥80%) reached standardization on 36 statements. CONCLUSION: This study provides an international expert consensus-based definition and standardization of ISR. This is the first study standardizing terminology and definition of deep pelvis/anal canal anatomy from a surgical point of view. Intersphincteric dissection, ISR and uLAR were specifically defined for precise surgical description. Indication for ISR was determined by the rectal tumour's maximal radial infiltration (T stage) below the levator ani. A new surgical definition of T3isp was reached by consensus to define T3 low rectal tumours infiltrating the intersphincteric plane. A practical flowchart for surgical indication for uLAR/ISR/abdominoperineal resection was developed. A standardized ISR surgical technique and functional outcome assessment protocol was defined.

Laparoscopic anterior resection: Analysis of technique over 1000 cases.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic rectal surgery has moved from being experimental to getting established as a mainstream procedure. We aimed at analysing how rectal cancer surgery has evolved at our institute. METHODS: A retrospective review of 1000 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic anterior resection for rectal adenocarcinoma over a period of 15 years (January 2005 to December 2019) was performed. Technical modifications were made with splenic flexure mobilisation, intersphincteric dissection and anastomotic technique. The data collected included type of surgery, duration of surgery, conversion to open, anastomotic leak, defunctioning stoma and duration of hospital stay. The first 500 and the next 500 cases were compared. RESULTS: The study patients were predominantly males comprising 68% (n = 680). The mean age of the patients was 58.3 years (range: 28-92 years). Majority of the procedures performed were high anterior resection (n = 402) and low anterior resection (LAR) (n = 341) followed by ultra-LAR (ULAR) (n = 208) and ULAR + colo-anal anastomosis (n = 49). A total of 42 patients who were planned for laparoscopic surgery needed conversion to open procedure. Forty-one patients (4.1%) had an anastomotic leak. The mean duration of stay was 5.3 + 2.8 days. The rate of conversion to open procedure had reduced from 5.4% to 3.0%. The rate of defunctioning stoma had reduced by >50% in the recent group. The anastomotic leak rate had reduced from 5.0% to 3.2%. The average duration of stay had reduced from 5.8 days to 4.9 days. CONCLUSION: This is one of the largest single-centre experiences of laparoscopic anterior resection. We have shown the progressive benefits of an evolving approach to laparoscopic anterior resection.

Long-term significance of an anastomotic leak in patients undergoing an ultra-low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Australia has one of the highest rates of colorectal cancer worldwide. Despite technological advances in colorectal surgery, anastomotic leaks (ALs) continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality. Ultra-low anterior resections (ULARs) carry the highest prevalence of AL. The aim of the study is to evaluate the incidence, treatment and consequences of AL following ULAR for colorectal cancer from a single colorectal unit. METHODS: This is a retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data on patients undergoing ULAR following rectal cancer. The main end points include the prevalence and management of AL following initial operation and the morbidity, re-operation and mortality rates associated with AL. A stepwise logistic regression analysis and a multivariate analysis were performed to identify independent risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 467 patients underwent an ULAR. There were 32 (6.8%) ALs. Average follow-up time was 79 months. There were five subclinical leaks and only one (20%) required intervention. The overall survival rate at 5 years was 80% (95% confidence interval 58-91). On univariate analysis male sex was a risk factor for AL (P = 0.03). On multivariate analysis patients who had a complete response to radiotherapy were more likely to have a leak than the patients who had no radiotherapy (grade 4, odds ratio 4.0, 95% confidence interval 1.4-10.9, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study has highlighted the relevance of subclinical leaks and their associated morbidity. It identified that radiotherapy a risk factor for AL, but the response to radiotherapy is an even better predictor of leakage.

Selection of anal preservation surgery of low rectal cancer / 中国实用外科杂志

With the promotion of neoadjuvant therapy,the development of minimally invasive techniques and new surgical techniques,the anal preservation rate of low rectalcancer is increasing year by year. To improve postoperative quality of life is an important goal in the treatment of low rectal cancer. At present,the main important low anal preservation surgery is as follows: Intersphincteric resection(ISR),including complete ISR,subtotal ISR,partial ISR and modified partial ISR; Transanal local resection,including transanal endoscopic microsurgery(TEM) and transanal minimally invasive surgery(TAMIS); Anterior perineal planefor ultra-low anterior resection of the rectum(APPEAR),which is performed through a separate perineal incision,israrely used at present; Transanal total mesorectal excision(TaTME) proposed in recent years. Preliminary studies have proven safe and effective for low advanced rectal cancer.TaTME require a learning curve. It is now making expertcon sensus and operation specification,operation training and conducting multi-center prospective study. TaTME isexpected to become the important operation for low rectalcancer.

Low rectal cancer: Sphincter preserving techniques-selection of patients, techniques and outcomes.

Low rectal cancer is traditionally treated by abdominoperineal resection. In recent years, several new techniques for the treatment of very low rectal cancer patients aiming to preserve the gastrointestinal continuity and to improve both the oncological as well as the functional outcomes, have been emerged. Literature suggest that when the intersphincteric resection is applied in T1-3 tumors located within 30-35 mm from the anal verge, is technically feasible, safe, with equal oncological outcomes compared to conventional surgery and acceptable quality of life. The Anterior Perineal PlanE for Ultra-low Anterior Resection technique, is not disrupting the sphincters, but carries a high complication rate, while the reports on the oncological and functional outcomes are limited. Transanal Endoscopic MicroSurgery (TEM) and TransAnal Minimally Invasive Surgery (TAMIS) should represent the treatment of choice for T1 rectal tumors, with specific criteria according to the NCCN guidelines and favorable pathologic features. Alternatively to the standard conventional surgery, neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy followed by TEM or TAMIS seems promising for tumors of a local stage T1sm2-3 or T2. Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision should be performed only when a board approved protocol is available by colorectal surgeons with extensive experience in minimally invasive and transanal endoscopic surgery.

Outcomes of ultra-low anterior resection combined with or without intersphincteric resection in lower rectal cancer patients.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the current practice of ultra-low anterior resection (uLAR) in patients with lower rectal cancer and compared uLARs using mostly transabdominal approach with or without intersphincteric resection (ISR). METHODS: A total of 624 consecutive lower rectal cancer patients undergoing curative uLAR were prospectively enrolled as ISR+ vs. ISR- groups (329 vs. 295 patients) between 2005 and 2012. The ISR+ group additionally received levator-sphincter reinforcement after distal resection. RESULTS: The circumferential resection margin (CRM) + rate (≤1 mm) was 2.1 % in the two groups. Postoperative ileus occurred more in the ISR- group than in the ISR+ group (p = 0.02). Substantial erectile dysfunction occurred 1.8 times more frequently in the ISR- group than in the ISR+ group (32 vs. 18.1 %; p = 0.01) among male patients at 2 years postoperatively. The urge to defecate volume and maximal tolerance volume, closely correlated with maximal squeezing pressure and/or mean resting pressure, did not differ between patients with and without chemoradiotherapy until 24 months postoperatively. Nevertheless, the urge to defecate volume was lesser in the ISR- group than in the ISR+ group at 24 months postoperatively (p = 0.022). For 301 patients in which >5 years had elapsed postoperatively, the mean 5-year local recurrence rate was 4.3 %, and the 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 78.9 and 92 %, respectively, without differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with uLAR without ISR, the transabdominal ISR with levator-sphincter reinforcement provides a safe resection plane with competent CRM, concurrently reduces substantial complications, and marginally promotes recovery of neorectal function.

Application of transanal specimen extraction via prolapsing approach in laparoscopic anterior resection for ultra-low rectal cancer / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To explore the application value and clinical efficacy of the transanal specimen extraction via prolapsing approach in laparoscopic anterior resection for ultra-low rectal cancer.Methods The clinical data of 27 patients with ultra-low rectal cancer who underwent transanal specimen extraction via prolapsing approach in laparoscopic anterior resection for ultra-low rectal cancer at the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from July 2010 to July 2013 were analyzed retrospectively.The average operation time, average volume of intraoperative blood loss, average number of lymph nodes dissection, average distance to resection margin, average length of resected specimen, results of postoperative pathological examination, time for postoperative outoff-bed activity, time to anal exsufflation, gastric tube removal time and postoperative complications were recorded.The visual analogue scale (VSA) pain score and Wexner score for evaluating fecal incontinence were performed at postoperative week 1 and at postoperative month 1, respectively.The anal function was tested at postoperative month 3 and 12.The follow-up including tumor metastasis and recurrence, Wexner score and anorectal anometry was performed by outpatient examination and telephone interview once every 3 months for 2 years after operation and then once every year up to October 2014.Measurement data with normal distribution was presented as-x ± s and average (range).Repeated measures data were analyzed by the repeated measures ANOVA.Results All the patients received successful operations without procedure change or intraoperative accident.The average operating time, average volume of intraoperative blood loss, average number of lymph nodes dissection, average distance to distal resection margin and average length of resected specimen were 140 minutes (range, 115-173 mintues), 27 mL(range, 15-55 mL), 17(range, 14-20), 1.7 cm(range, 1.3-2.2 cm) and 18.5 cm(range, 14.7-22.4 cm), respectively.Postoperative TNM stages: T2N0M0 was detected in 19 patients, T2N1M0 in 3 patients,T3N0M0 in 4 patients and T3N1M0 in 1 patients.The time for postoperative out-off-bed activity and time to anal exsufflation were 8.8 hours (range, 7.0-13.0 hours) and 51 hours (range, 30-79 hours).Twenty-seven patients had the gastric tube removal after operation with fluid diet intake at postoperative hour 24 and semi-fluid diet intake at postoperative hour 48.One male patient was complicated with urinary retention at postoperative day 3 and 1 with anastomotic leakage at postoperative day 9, they were cured by symptomatic treatment.VSA pain scores in all patients from 1 day to 6 days postoperatively were 5.6, 4.6, 4.0, 3.2, 2.2 and 1.3.The average duration of hospital stay was 11.1 days (range, 7.0-19.0 days).Patients had good healing of abdominal incision at postoperative week 2.All the patients were followed up for a average time of 24.8 months (range, 15.0-32.0 months) without tumor metastasis and recurrence.Wexner score was 2.6 (range, 1.0-4.0) at postoperative month 1.The results of anorectal anometry: maximum anorectal resting pressure (MARP) and maximum anorectal systolic pressure were (267 ±23)mmHg (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa) and (305 ± 23)mmHg before operation, (266 ± 40)mmHg and (300 ± 38)mmHg at postoperative month 3, (267 ± 33)mmHg and (315 ± 30)mmHg at postoperative month 12, respectively, with no significant difference in the changing trend between pre-and post-operation (F =0.510, 1.390, P ＞ 0.05).Anorectal resting vector volume and anorectal systolic vector volume were (45 594 ± 1 981) cm (mmHg) 2 and (98 480 ± 8 165) cm (mmHg) 2 before operation, (40 310 ±3 465)cm(mmHg)2 and (78 461 ±6 777)cm(mmHg)2 at postoperative month 3, (40 385 ± 3 379) cm(mmHg) 2 and (82 082 ± 10 383) cm(mmHg) 2 at postoperative month 12, respectively, with significant differences in the changing trend between pre-and post-operation (F =26.845, 48.090, P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Transanal specimen extraction via prolapsing approach in laparoscopic anterior resection for ultra-low rectal cancer is safe, aesthetic and minimally invasive compared with the traditional laparoscopic surgery, with the advantages of radical cure of tumor and protection of anal function.

Laparoscopic anterior perineal plane for ultra-low anterior resection of the rectum for low rectal cancer / 中华消化外科杂志

The introduction of stapling instruments and improved understanding of pathology has resulted in a greater proportion of low rectal cancer patients undergoing sphincter-preserving resection.A variety of alternative techniques have been proposed to avoid a permanent stoma,including abdominal pull through,abdominal trans-sphincteric resection and intersphincteric resection.However,these damages always inflicted on the anal sphincters with poor functional results.More recently,the anterior perineal plane for ultra-low anterior resection of the rectum (APPEAR) technique was developed which approaches the anurectum via an anterior transperineal approach and exploits an anatomic space within the pelvic floor musculature termed “rectal no-man's laud”.The ability to access this segment of distal rectum by the perineal approach may determine whether a sphincter-saving resection can be performed for a proportion of patients who would otherwise require a permanent stoma.We performed laparoscopic APPEAR for a 46-year old woman with low rectal cancer with satisfactory results.