Introduction: The safe introduction of transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) has been documented by the Australasian group previously. The most important prognostic indicator for rectal cancer is the ability to achieve a clear resection margin. By utilizing false planes for taTME surgery, the endopelvic fascia and or presacral fascia can be resected en bloc. Technique: This case highlights the utilization of a taTME platform to perform a distal taTME with presacral fascial stripping and a lateral pelvic sidewall transanal-assisted dissection in a 53-year-old otherwise healthy woman with a mid-rectal tumor. Radiologically the tumor was staged as a T3c/T4 rectal cancer with an N1c deposit extending beyond mesorectal fascia abutting the left piriformis muscle. An extramural venous invasion positive tumor was evident with a positive circumferential resection margin at 4 o' clock. In addition, the taTME platform was used to allow transanal intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) delivery to the sacrum. An R0 resection was achieved and the patient recovered well without incident. Results: Total operative time was 250 minutes with the patient being discharged on day 7 postoperatively without complication. Macroscopic evaluation revealed a grade III mesorectal excision with en bloc removal of presacral fascia. On microscopic evaluation, revealed a T3N1b tumor with 2 of 14 positive lymph nodes (0/5 pelvic sidewall nodes). Conclusion: The case highlights a novel application of taTME and is to the authors' best knowledge the first described use of a transanal platform to deliver intraoperative radiation therapy in the literature.
Background
Non‐restorative options for low rectal cancer not invading the sphincter includes low Hartmann's procedure (LH) and inter‐sphincteric abdominoperineal resection (ISAPR). There is currently little comparative data to differentiate these options.
Objectives
The aim of this review was to assess the peri‐operative morbidity of LH, and then to compare it to that of ISAPR.
Data Sources
An up‐to‐date systematic review was performed on the available literature between 2000–2020 on PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases.
Study Selection
All studies reporting on non‐restorative surgeries for rectal cancer were analysed. Outcomes were firstly analysed between LH and non‐LH groups, with further sub‐analysis comparing the LH and ISAPR groups.
Main outcome measure
The main outcome measures were the rates of pelvic sepsis, rates of overall post‐operative complication rates, oncological outcomes, and survival.
Results
A total of 12 observational studies were included. There were 3526 patients (61.1%) in the LH group, and 2238 patients (38.9%) in the non‐LH group, which included 461 patients who underwent ISAPR. The LH group had a higher rate of pelvic sepsis as compared to the non‐LH group (OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.39–2.29, P < 0.001). The difference is more marked in the sub‐analysis comparing LH and ISAPR alone (OR: 3.94, 95% CI: 1.88–7.84, P < 0.01) corresponding to a higher rate of unplanned re‐intervention. LH was associated with a higher rate of short‐term post‐operative mortality as compared to the non‐LH group.
Conclusion
ISAPR is the preferred option for non‐restorative rectal surgery, with a more favourable peri‐operative morbidity and short‐term mortality profile as compared to LH.
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