Objective To assess the feasibility and adequacy of Harmonic Scalpel in a totally laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) and low,ultralow,colo-anal anastomoses for rectal cancer. Methods Excision of the mesorectum and low，ultralow site anastomoses were performed laparoscopically on 30 patients with low rectal cancer based on the concept of TME. Results All 30 TME were successfully completed by laparoscopic approach, and no one was converted to open procedures. A cholecystectomy and/or an ovariotomy were meanwhile performed laparoscopically for 3 patients with rectal cancer,and 1 patient with chronic cholesyctitis, gallstone,ovarian cyst and torsion of the ovary. The operation time was 155 min (115-320 min). Operative blood loss was 20 ml (5-80 ml).The time of bowel function returned and the time to resume postoperative diet was 1-2 days after the operation. Fourteen patients had postoperative analgesic requirement. Average hospital stay was 8 days (5-14 days) and there were no intraoperative and postoperative complications in all 30 patients.Conclusion Laparoscopic excision of the mesorectum and low,ultralow,coloanal anastomoses with Harmonic Scalpel for low rectal cancer is a perspective minimally invasive technique, which is feasible, safe, effective and has dramatic high rates of sphincter preservation with decreased postoperative pain, rapid recovery.
Objective To introduce the surgical technique and results of total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer. Methods Reviews.Results As a result of TME, local recurrence rates have declined from 20%-30% to 3%-8%, 5-year survival rate have risen to 75%, and the rates of sphincter preservation have risen too.Conclusion Total mesorectal excision reduces the local recurrence rates and raise the survival figures after excision of rectal cancer. Patients have a high quality of life.
Objective To introduce the total mesorectal excision (TME)under the laparoscope and with the ultrosonic scalpel. Methods Under the laparoscope and with the ultrosonic scalpel, total mesorectal excision in 3 patients was performed. In operation, alone the parietal layer of pelvic fascia and inside the automatic nerve trunk, the mesorectum was excised with the ultrasonic scalpel. Results Three patients got final recovery, no damage to the viscera in operation occurred. Average hemorrhage amount was about 100ml. Intestinal function recovered within 24 hours, average in hospital time was 10.3 days. After 4 months, 3 patients got good living quality without recurrence and metastasis.Conclusion TME under the laparoscope is a new progress of less damageable operation. Compared with the traditional open laparotomy,it has some advantage. But it requires high technology and expensive equipments, and the case is still very limited in use.
Objective To study the relationship between autonomic nerve preservation and sexual and urinary functions after total mesorectal excision in patients with cancer of the lower rectum, and to explore improved nursing methods for these patients. Methods Eligible patients with cancer of the lower rectum were non-randomly assigned to either a control group (n=278)or an autonomic nerve-preserving group （n=263）. The recovery time of micturition desire, catherization time, lower urinary tract infection rate, residual urine, severity of urinary disorders and sexual disorders were observed. Results The recovery time of micturition desire, catherization time, lower urinary tract infection rate, residual urine, severity of urinary disorders and sexual disorders were lower in the autonomic nerve-preserving group than in the control group. (Plt;0.05) . Conclusion Autonomic nerve preservation radical resection leads to better maintenance of urinary and sexual functions for patients with cancer of the lower rectum. Nursing should be focused on the prevention of urinary tract complications and the rehabilitation of sexual and urinary functions.
Objective To investigate the application of air leak test combined with methylene blue solution leak test in the detection of anastomotic leakage after total mesorectal excision （TME） in rectal cancer. Methods In total of132 patients with rectal cancer underwent Dixon according to TME in our hospital from Mar. 2010 to Mar. 2013 were enrolled. All patients were randomly divided into air leak test group （n=65） and air leak＋methylene blue solution leak test group （n=67）. The intestinal anastomosis of patients in air leak test group were clamped at 2 cm from the upper endof bowel， then injecting 500 mL distilled water to pelvic， and placing 24# Foley catheter through the anus. The catheter balloon was injected with water to close anus， and then injected with 50 mL gas to find the anastomotic leakage where bubbles happened， and then repaired it. Patients of air leak＋methylene blue solution leak test group were treated with methylene blue solution test in addition. After sucking out of the distilled water in pelvic and gas in the rectum， 1 bottle of methylene blue solution （20 mg） and 50 mL saline were injected， observing the location where the methylene blue solutionleaking out and repaired it. Results Three cases （4.62%） of anastomotic leakage were found during operation in air leak test group， and 9 cases （13.85%） were found after operation. Of the 9 cases， 5 cases were cured with placement of adeq-uate drainage and symptomatic treatment， 3 cases were cured with anal patch， and 1 case was cured with transverse colon fistula and drainage. In total of 15 cases （22.39%） were found anastomotic leakage， 2 cases of them were found by air leak test and another 13 cases were found by methylene blue solution leak test during operation in air leak＋methylene bluesolution leak test group， but no one suffered anastomotic leakage after operation. Compared with air test group， detectionrate of anastomotic leakage during operation was higher （P＜0.05）， and incidence rate of anastomotic leakage after opera-tion was lower in air leak＋methylene blue solution leak test group （P＜0.05）. Conclusions Large anastomotic leakage can be found by using air leak test， and small and hidden leakage can be found by using methylene blue solution leak test， combination method of the two experiments is better. Repair can be performed effectively under direct vision.
Objective To investigate the safety and feasibility of the total mesorectal excision （TME） and intersphincteric resection （ISR） for ultra-low rectal cancer and anal sphincter preservation surgery for anorectal cancer， and to evaluate the short term efficacy and postoperative anal function. Methods A retrospective analysis of clinical and follow-up data of 86 cases with TME＋ISR for ultra-low rectal cancer and anorectal cancer from January 2009 to December 2010 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University were performed. Results Eighty-six patients were successfully performed the operation， the lower edge of tumor from the anus was 1-5 cm （average 1.63cm）； tumor diameter was 2-7 cm （average 3.4cm）. The tumors were high differentiation in 4 cases， moderately differentiation in 60 cases，and poorly differentiation in 22 cases. The pTNM stages were stageⅠin 12 cases， stageⅡA in 11 cases， stage ⅡB in 15 cases， stage ⅢA in 2 cases， stage ⅢB in 23 cases， stage ⅢC in 16 cases， and stage Ⅳ in 7 cases. There were postoperative anastomotic leakage in 3 cases， perianal infection in 2 cases （1 case received reoperation with permanent colostomy because of pelvic peritoneal infection caused by perianal severe infections）. Anastomotic bleeding and anastomotic stenosis were of 2 cases respectively. Rectovaginal fistula， inflammatory ileus， urinary retention， and abdominal infection were of 1 case respectively. Eighty-six patients were followed-up for 12-24 months， the mean time was 18 months. Liver metastases was found in 1 case in 7 months after operation， 2 cases dead in the 7th month and 12th month after operation respectively. Local recurrence were found in 3 cases （3.5%） in 1 year after operation. The survival rate of 1-year was 97.7% （84/86）. The times of defecation was 1-5 times a day. The Kirwan’s score level on function of control defecation was 1-2 grade. Conclusions TME＋ISR for low rectal cancer and anorectal cancer is a viable， safe， and radical operation type for preservation of anus. The short term efficacy is satisfactory.
Objective To evaluate the feasibility, safety, radicality, and short-term and mid-term clinical outcomes of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision （TME） in comparison with open procedure for the middle-lower rectal cancer. Methods From October 2005 to October 2008， 52 patients with middle-lower rectal cancer received laparoscopic TME （Dixon’operation） without preventive stoma， while 46 patients underwent conventional open TME （Dixon’operation） without preventive stoma. The operative procedures, clinicopathological data， and short-term and mid-term outcomes were collected and compared between the two groups. Results The other patients were successful in both groups in addition to 2 （3.8%） patients were converted to open procedure in laparoscopic TME group. There was no perioperative death in both groups. The intraoperative blood loss, the time for bowel movement retrieval （first flatus）， and the incision healing in laparoscopic TME group were better than that in open TME group （P＜0.05）. No significant differences were observed between two groups in anastomotic leakage and pulmonary infection （P＞0.05）. Comparison of specimen, no significant differences were observed between two groups in negative distal margin and circumferential resection margin, number of lymph nodes resected, distance of distal resection margin to the tumor （P＞0.05）. No significant differences were observed between two groups in cancer-related death, local recurrence, distant metastasis, and 3-year survival rate （P＞0.05）. Conclusions Laparoscopic TME for middle-low rectal cancer is a safe, feasible, and minimally invasive technique, and can achieve satisfactory oncological outcome, which provides similar short-term and mid-term outcome compared with the traditional open procedure.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with total mesorectal excision （TME） in treatment for locally advanced lower rectal cancer. Methods The clinical data of 31 patients with locally advanced lower rectal cancer received concurrent chemoradiotherapy from January 2009 to December 2011 in this hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Conventional fraction radiotherapy with total dose 50 Gy and chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 or CapeOX regimen were taken. The efficacy was assessed by recording results of clinical and pathological examination. The function of sphincter was also recorded. Results All 31 patients underwent TME operation. The complication morbidity and mortality was 12.9% （4/31） and 3.2% （1/31），respectively. As a result of the preoperative management，the tumor was reduced by an average of 21.9%， down-regulation of T stage was observed in 48.4% （15/31） patients，the frequency of lymph node metastasis decreased from 83.9% （26/31） to 38.7% （12/31）. Pathological complete response was observed in 5 patients （16.1%） and the total response rate was 74.2% （23/31），grade 3/4 toxicity was occurred in 2 （6.5%） patients. 84.6% （22/26） of patients underwent sphincter preservation surgery reserved good function of sphincter. Conclusions Preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with TME in treatment for locally advanced lower rectal cancer is effective and safe，which can lead to pathological complete response，decrease the tumor stage and the rate of lymph node metastasis，and can also increase the efficacy of operation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of postoperative CT examination for evaluation of local complications in patients with low rectal carcinoma after total mesorectal excision with anal sphincter preservation. MethodsThe patients with low rectal carcinoma who received total mesorectal excision (TME) with anal sphincter preservation were examined using contrastenhanced CT in one year period from May 2009 to May 2010. Particular attention was paid to the presence of anastomotic leakage, local recurrence and status of lymph nodes. ResultsTotal of 82 patients (52 men, 30 women； mean age 57.8 years old； range 25.74 years old) were included in the study. Over a mean 10-month follow-up， 8 cases （9.8%） had clinically or surgically confirmed anastomotic leak, 6 cases （7.3%） had local recurrence around the anastomotic site， and 4 cases （4.9%） showed pelvic and distant metastatic lymphadenopathy. ConclusionPostoperative CT examination, including baseline and follow-up CT studies, is very useful for diagnosing anastomotic leakage, local tumor recurrence and lymphadenopathy.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of pelvic autonomic nerve preservation (PANP) with total mesorectal excision (TME) on sexual and urinary function in male rectal cancer patients. MethodsClinical data of eightyfour patients with rectal cancer from January 2008 to October 2010 in our hospital were analyzed. According to different operative techniques, all the patients were divided into two groups: PANP+TME group (n=41) and TME group (n=43). The sexual dysfunction, urination disorder rate, and local recurrence rate after operation of patients between two groups were compared. ResultsErectile dysfunction rate of patients in TME+PANP group and TME group was 29.3% (12/41) and 76.7% (33/43), ejaculation disorder rate was 26.8% (11/41) and 79.1% (34/43), and urination dysfunction rate was 24.4% (10/41) and 79.1% (34/43), respectively. The rate of sexual and urinary dysfunction of patients in TME+PANP group was significantly lower than that in TME group (Plt;0.05). Local recurrence rate of patients in TME+PANP group (9.8%, 4/41) was similar to that in TME group (11.6%, 5/43)， Pgt;0.05. ConclusionPANP based on TME can reduce effectively the rate of sexual and urinary dysfunction in male rectal cancer patients, which does not increase the local recurrence rate after operation.