Robotic-assisted laparoscopic transanal total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: a prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND: We performed a prospective pilot study of robotic-assisted laparoscopic transanal proctectomy with total mesorectal excision for the surgical treatment of rectal cancer. This study was to assess the feasibility and safety of robotic-assisted laparoscopic transanal total mesorectal excision. TECHNIQUE: All patients underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic left colon mobilization, robotic-assisted laparoscopic transanal total mesorectal excision, ultralow mechanical colorectal or handsewn coloanal anastomosis, and a diverting loop ileostomy. Four patients with stage III disease received long-course preoperative chemoradiation before surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary and secondary end points included the assessment of pathological examination and postoperative morbidity. RESULTS: Between August 2013 and January 2014, 4 men and 1 woman underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic transanal total mesorectal excision. Patient age and BMI were 57 ± 13.9 years and 25.8 ± 2,7 kg/m. Tumors were located an average of 5 ± 1 cm from the anal verge and were preoperatively staged as T2N0M0 (1 patient) and T2N1M0 (4 patients). Mean operative time was 398 ± 88 minutes with no intraoperative complications. Mean length of hospital stay was 6 ± 1 days. A Clavien II, grade B anastomotic leakage developed in 1 patient postoperatively. In all cases, pathological examination of the total mesorectal excision specimens showed complete mesorectal excision with negative proximal, distal, and circumferential margins. All patients were disease-free at their initial 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic-assisted laparoscopic transanal total mesorectal excision is a feasible and safe option for the surgical management of early-stage rectal cancers. Robotic technology with endowristed instruments and 3-dimensional high-definition imaging are of great help in overcoming the limitations of traditional laparoscopic transanal surgery. Long-term functional and oncological assessments of outcome are needed.

Nueva técnica de proctectomía trasanal con escisión total del mesorrecto totalmente robótica en el tratamiento del cáncer de recto / New technique of transanal proctectomy with completely robotic total mesorrectal excision for rectal cancer

La resección anterior con escisión total mesorrectal es el tratamiento estándar para el cáncer de recto. Este tratamiento sigue siendo técnicamente dificultoso en los tumores localizados en el recto medio e inferior. Presentamos un caso de escisión total mesorrectal robótica transanal con asistencia robó tica en un varón de 57 años e IMC 32 kg/m2 con un adenocarcinoma T2N1M0 a 5 cm de línea pectínea tras tratamiento neoadyuvante. El tiempo quirúrgico fue de 420 min. La estancia postoperatoria fue de 6 días, sin objetivarse complicaciones. El estudio anatomopatológico demostró una pieza de 33 cm, una tumoración ypT2N0 con margen distal de 2 cm, margen circunferencial libre y buena calidad del mesorrecto. La tecnología robótica puede disminuir la dificultad inherente a las plataformas TEO/TEM o SILS para la realización de este tipo de procedimientos. La realización de ensayos clínicos es necesaria para la completa evaluación de esta técnica

Anterior resection with total mesorectal excision is the standard method of rectal cancer resection. However, this procedure remains technically difficult in mid and low rectal cancer. A robotic transanal proctectomy with total mesorectal excision and laparoscopic assistance is reported in a 57 year old male with BMI 32 kg/m2 and rectal adenocarcinoma T2N1M0 at 5 cm from the dentate line. Operating time was 420 min. Postoperative hospital stay was 6 days and no complications were observed. Pathological report showed a 33 cm specimen with ypT2N0 adenocarcinoma at 2 cm from the distal margin, complete TME and non affected circumferential resection margin. Robotic technology might reduce some technical difficulties associated with TEM/TEO or SILS platforms in transanal total mesorectal excision. Further clinical trials will be necessary to assess this technique