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Neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (nCRT) of locally advanced rectal cancer is associated with challenging surgical treatment and increased postoperative morbidity. Robotic technology overcomes laparoscopy limitations by enlarged 3D view, improved anatomical transection accuracy, and physiologic tremor reduction. Patients with UICC stage II-III rectal cancer, consecutively referred to our institution between March 2015 and June 2020 (n = 102) were treated with robotic (Rob-G, n = 38) or laparoscopic (Lap-G, n = 64) low anterior resection (LAR) for total meso-rectal excision (TME) following highly standardized and successful nCRT treatment. Feasibility, conversion rates, stoma creation, morbidity and clinical/pathological outcome were comparatively analysed. Sex, age, BMI, ASA scores, cTN stages and tumour distance from dentate line were comparable in the two groups. Robotic resection was always feasible without conversion to open surgery, which was necessary in 11/64 (17%) Lap-G operations (p = 0.006). Primary or secondary stomata were created in 17/38 (45%) Rob-G and 52/64 (81%) Lap-G patients (p < 0.001). Major morbidity occurred in 7/38 (18.4%) Rob-G and 6/64 (9.3%) Lap-G patients (p = 0.225). Although median operation time was longer in Rob-G compared with Lap-G (376; IQR: 330-417 min vs. 300; IQR: 270-358 min; p < 0.001), the difference was not significant in patients (Rob-G, n = 6; Lap-G, n = 10) with ≥30 BMI (p = 0.106). Number of resected lymph nodes, ypTN staging and circumferential resection margins (CRM) were comparable. Resection was complete in 87% of Rob-G and 89% of Lap-G patients (p = 0.750). Robotic LAR is not inferior to laparoscopic LAR following nCRT. Larger, randomized studies are needed to confirm lower conversion in robotic, compared to laparoscopic resection., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Background: By improved surgical technique such as total mesorectal excision (TME), multimodal treatment and advances in imaging survival and an increased rate of sphincter preservation have been achieved in rectal cancer surgery. Minimal-invasive approaches such as laparoscopic, robotic and transanal-TME (ta-TME) enhance recovery after surgery. Nevertheless, disorders of bowel, anorectal and urogenital function are still common and need attention., Purpose: This review aims at exploring the causes of dysfunction after anterior resection (AR) and the accordingly preventive strategies. Furthermore, the indication for low AR in the light of functional outcome is discussed. The last therapeutic strategies to deal with bowel, anorectal, and urogenital disorders are depicted., Conclusion: Functional disorders after rectal cancer surgery are frequent and underestimated. More evidence is needed to define an indication for non-operative management or local excision as alternatives to AR. The decision for restorative resection should be made in consideration of the relevant risk factors for dysfunction. In the case of restoration, a side-to-end anastomosis should be the preferred anastomotic technique. Further high-evidence clinical studies are required to clarify the benefit of intraoperative neuromonitoring. While the function of ta-TME seems not to be superior to laparoscopy, case-control studies suggest the benefits of robotic TME mainly in terms of preservation of the urogenital function. Low AR syndrome is treated by stool regulation, pelvic floor therapy, and transanal irrigation. There is good evidence for sacral nerve modulation for incontinence after low AR.

Background: The aim of this study is to obtain functional results of the long-term follow-up after TME and ileocecal interposition as rectal replacement., Methods: The study included patients operated on between March 1993 and August 1997 who received an ileocecal interposition as rectal replacement. Follow-up was carried out 3 and 5 years postoperatively. For statistical analysis, the paired t-test, rank test (Wilcoxon), and chi-square or Fisher's exact test were applied; level of significance, P<0.05., Results: Forty-four patients were included in the studies. Of these, five were not available and four patients could not be evaluated (dementia 1, radiation proctitis 1, fistula 1, pouchitis 1). Seventeen patients died during the observation period; 12 died of the disease. Recurrence of the disorder occurred in 2 of 35 patients (5.7%); 26 and 18 patients, 3 and 5 years postoperatively, respectively remained in the study. At 5 years, 78% of the patients were continent; mean stool frequency was 2.5+/-1.6 per day., Conclusions: Functional results and subjective assessment of ileocecal interposition were constant at 3 and 5 years postoperatively. If construction of a colonic J-pouch is not possible due to lack of colonic length, especially after prior colonic resections, the ileocecal interpositional reservoir may offer an alternative to rectal replacement.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) allows local excision of rectal tumors located 4 to 18 cm above the anal verge. The technique is not yet generally established because of the necessary special instrumentation and tools, the unusual technical aspects of the approach, and the stringent patient selection criteria. The aim of this prospective, descriptive study was to analyze the currently accepted indications for TEM and to evaluate the use of this procedure for treating rectal cancer. Over a 4-year period 50 patients aged 31 to 86 years (mean 64 years) underwent TEM for treatment of rectal tumors located 12 cm above the anal verge (range 4-18 cm). The local complication rate was 4%. Altogether, 76% of lesions were benign, and 24% were T1 and T2 tumors. Of 12 cancer cases, 4 required reoperation by total mesorectal resection; the other 8 are currently under follow-up management. Over the follow-up period of 30.6 months (range 11-54 months) the recurrence rate of T1 tumors was 8.3%. TEM is a minimally invasive surgical technique that may benefit a small, specific population of patients with rectal tumors. Compared with conventional transanal resection, TEM provides superior exposure of tumors higher up in the rectum (i.e., up to 18 cm from the anal verge). The greater precision of resection combined with low morbidity (10%, relative to that of anterior resection) and short duration of hospitalization (5.5 days) make this technique a reliable and in some cases more effective surgical approach than laparotomy and low anterior resection.

The hand-sutured coloanal anastomosis requires adequate and atraumatic exposure of the anal canal in order to avoid sphincter damage. We evaluated a new modified anal retractor to improve exposure of the anal canal and thread handling during construction of hand-sutured coloanal anastomosis. This new device was used during all coloanal and transperineal procedures performed in 1997 in our hospital. This new device is safe and extremely comfortable for the surgeon. It speeds up the procedure and keeps sutures out of the way when completing a coloanal anastomosis.

Objectives: We have recently described a reservoir for rectal replacement after total mesorectal excision for rectal carcinoma. The ileocecal segment with its intact extrinsic nerve and blood supply is placed between the ascending colon and the anal canal. This reconstruction has been shown to provide good defecation quality and anorectal function. Whether gastric emptying and small as well as large bowel transit are affected by this transposition remains unclear. Our aim was to quantify whole gut transit in such patients and compare it with that of a matched group of controls., Methods: Gastric emptying rates and small intestinal and colonic transit times were assessed scintigraphically in 12 patients aged 46 to 87 years with ileocecal reservoir reconstruction after total mesorectal excision and compared to a sex-matched group of asymptomatic healthy volunteers of similar age. Gastric emptying rates and small intestinal and colonic transit times were calculated as described previously. Data were compared using Wilcoxon's signed rank test for gastric emptying rates and small bowel transit or by analysis of variance for colonic transit; p < 0.05 was considered significant., Results: Gastric time for half of the meal (T50) was 161 +/- 16 minutes for patients and 201 +/- 22 for the controls. Small bowel transit time was 150 +/- 15 minutes for patients and 177 +/- 22 for the controls. Geometric center at 6 hours was 1.53 +/- 0.13 for patients and 1.27 +/- 0.16 for the controls. Geometric center at 24 hours was 2.96 +/- 0.23 for patients and 2.57 +/- 0.25 for the controls. Data are mean +/- SEM., Summary: Gastric emptying rates and small bowel transit and colonic transit times (expressed as geometric center at 6 and 24 hours) were similar in patients with ileocecal reservoir reconstruction and in a sex- and age-matched group of healthy controls. We conclude that the transposition of an ileocecal segment with intact extrinsic neurovascular supply between the sigmoid colon and the anal canal does not alter whole gut transit, not even in any of the presumably key regions.

Surgery of rectal cancer aims at providing satisfactory quality of life at an early postoperative stage. Low postoperative morbidity and good defecation quality early after rectal reconstruction by means of a colonic reservoir are essential conditions for good quality of life.

Background/aims: After proctectomy for low rectal cancer and straight coloanal reconstruction, the main causes for increased daily stool frequency, urgency, and incontinence are the limited capacity and distensibility of the anastomosed colic segment in the pelvis. The authors postulated that a pedunculated (preserving the nerve) ileocecal interpositional graft (cecum-reservoir) placed between the sigmoid colon and the anal canal would greatly reduce these inconveniences., Methods: The authors evaluated the safety, defecation quality, and anorectal physiology of such a neorectum in 20 consecutive patients with rectal carcinoma between 5 and 10 cm above the anal verge who underwent total mesorectal excision., Results: No perioperative morbidity related to the technique and no mortality was observed in these 20 patients. Six months after the operation, 16 patients showed excellent and 4 patients good defecation quality, with maximal tolerable volumes, compliance, and mean colonic transit times comparable to age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. In addition, anal resting pressure was decreased, squeeze pressure was maintained, and the rectoanal inhibitory reflex remained positive in 80%., Conclusions: The cecum-reservoir as a neorectum, using an intact neurovascular colonic segment, is a safe technique, providing excellent defecation quality. It enables a nearly normal physiologic anorectal function, which is already seen 6 months postoperatively.

The purpose of this review is to summarize new developments in the surgical treatment of benign and malignant tumors of the rectum, focusing on oncological requirements and postoperative functional aspects which affect the quality of life. One of the developments is the transanal endoscopic microsurgical (TEM) approach to resection of adenomas and low risk early cancers in the rectum. Another focus is total rectum resection with colo-anal reconstruction with a colon pouch. This procedure reconstructs anorectal anatomy and provides nearly normal function. The reconstruction exists in two forms, (a) the colon-J-pouch and (b) the ileocecal interposition pouch (cecum pouch), which was developed at our institution. The review includes 33 consecutive patients with a rectum tumor. Standardized tumor-specific and functional staging determines which technique is used. 12 patients were operated on using the transanal endoscopic approach, 3 patients had a posterior proctotomy, another patient a transanal local excision and 17 patients total rectum resection with colon pouch reconstruction as described above.

Purpose: Surgical options in metachronous or recurrent rectal cancer after anterior or low anterior resection are limited and frequently result in abdominoperineal rectal extirpation sacrificing the sphincter or in straight coloanal reconstruction. Decreased capacity and distensibility in straight coloanal reconstruction after proctectomy correlate well with increased daily stool frequency, urgency, and incontinence. A new technique for coloanal pouch reconstruction using the ileocecal segment is proposed., Methods: A pedunculated ileocecal segment was rotated 180 degrees counterclockwise and placed between the sigmoid colon and anal canal. Ileal end of the pouch was then anastomosed end-to-end with the transected sigmoid colon and proximal end of the ileum with distal end of the ascending colon. Functional results and defecation quality of a 67-year-old woman are described 6 and 12 months after ileocolonic interposition pouch replacing the tumor-bearing rectum., Results: Twelve months postoperatively, the patient is free of disease with an excellent defecation quality, has full anal continence without soiling, is having two solid stools in 24 hours. Functional control revealed normal anal sphincter pressure and large rectal capacity and compliance. Neither outlet obstruction nor incomplete evacuation have been observed., Conclusion: The ileocecal interposition pouch (cecum pouch) represents an alternative technique for coloanal reconstruction in low rectal cancer, recurrent rectal cancer, or metachronous low rectal cancer with intact sphincter function. This new method presents some attractive features compared with techniques presently in use.

Sessile polyps of the proximal and middle part of the rectum are difficult and sometimes impossible to remove by snaring techniques. The conventional transanal approach to this level results in inappropriate survey and security. Parasacral techniques and low anterior resection require disproportionate measures to treat these adenomas. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a relatively new operative technique to remove sessile polyps of the entire rectum, developed by Buess et al. [1] in Germany. The system uses a special endorectal scope connected to a stereoscopic angulated optical system for visualization. A continuous pressure-controlled insufflation of carbon dioxide keeps the rectum open for exposure. The excision is done by electrocautery in the submucosal plane or as full thickness excision in the submuscular plane. The defect is closed with an intrarectal running suture. Our report demonstrates the indications and limits of this technique and compares it to conventional techniques mentioned above. 12 patients with different kinds of tumor have been selected and serve as basis for our discussion. TEM offers excellent survey in the entire rectum and permits removal of villous adenomas and incidental low risk and early rectal cancers. High risk patients tolerate this procedure well. Unsuitable are circular and long-distance adenomas and transmural growing benign tumors of the proximal rectum.

Coloanal reconstruction is a sphincter saving operation following total rectal resection to treat rectal cancer 3 to 11 cm above the dentate line. Total rectal resection in this situation is justified from the oncological and surgical viewpoint because the local recurrence rate and morbidity are not different from the "gold standard", abdominoperineal resection sacrificing the anal sphincter. Although patients undergoing straight coloanal reconstruction preserve continence, they are often disturbed by high stool frequencies and imperative urge. We set out to establish whether construction of a colon-j-pouch could ameliorate the quality of defecation and thus prove useful. In this study the pre- and postoperative results of a pilot study with 4 consecutive patients following colon-j-pouch-anal reconstruction are presented. Perioperatively, 3 of 4 patients suffered from intermittent disturbances of urinary voiding. Sexual function was disturbed in 3 of 4 patients. All patients were completely continent. The preliminary results showed a decreased sphincter pressure at rest of 40 mm Hg (SD: 5) and a normal squeeze pressure. Endoanal ultrasound demonstrated a normal anal sphincter morphology. Pouch compliance yielded 4.7 ml/cm H2O and was better than after straight coloanal reconstruction in the control group (2.8 ml/cm H2O). The stool frequency at 6 months was 3/24 hours without imperative urge. The colon transit time lasted 49 hours and was in the normal range. No pouch evacuation disorders were observed. These results show a minimal morbidity in colon-j-pouch-anal reconstruction with preservation of complete continence in the follow-up time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Endorectal ultrasound is the most reliable method in staging rectal cancer and is superior to computed tomography. In a prospective series of 152 consecutive patients, comparison of preoperative ultrasound staging and postoperative histopathological staging resulted in an overall accuracy of 90.1%. Overstaging was observed in 9.2%, understaging in 0.7%. Peritumoral inflammatory changes, preoperative radiotherapy and localization of the tumor in the lower rectum were the main reasons for overstaging. Understaging was seen in stenotic or only minimal invasive tumors. Accuracy in staging lymph nodes was 78.5%. Inflammatory changes in the nodes were responsible for either overstaging or understaging. Whether diagnosis will be improved with a higher frequency--mainly in lymph nodes--has yet to be proved. With knowledge of the reasons for misinterpretation, endorectal sonography is--mainly in the lower rectum--a valuable aid in evaluation of surgical procedure.

In rectal cancer, depth of infiltration and metastatic involvement of lymph nodes are important prognostic factors. The correct choice of operative treatment depends on the extent of the disease. In a prospective study, the value of endorectal ultrasound in staging rectal cancer was evaluated, and factors affecting the method's accuracy are discussed. The overall accuracy in staging depth of infiltration was 89 percent. Overstaging occurred in 10.2 percent, understaging in 0.8 percent. Tumors of the lower rectum are incorrectly staged in 16.7 percent, whereas tumors of the middle and upper rectum had an incorrect staging in 6.3 percent (P < 0.001). Compared with computed tomography, endorectal sonography is the more accurate staging method (74.7 vs. 90.8 percent). In staging lymph nodes, the overall accuracy was 80.2 percent, sensitivity was 89.4 percent, specificity was 73.4 percent, positive predictive value (PPV) was 71.2 percent, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 90.4 percent. The staging accuracy depends on the size of the node. Endorectal ultrasound is a safe, inexpensive, and accurate staging method, in the assessment of both depth of infiltration and nodal status. The results are strongly related to the experience of the investigator.