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Published on: February 12, 2022
Total mesorectal excision with the water-jet-dissection. Technique and results
F Köckerling1, C Yildirim, J Rose
1Department of Surgery and Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Hanover Hospital (Siloah) , Roesebeckstr. 15, D-30449 Hanover, Germany. ferdinand.koeckerling.siloah@klinikum-hannover.de
Background:
The introduction of total mesorectal excision (TME), in particular, has resulted in a dramatic decrease in postoperative functional disorders. Strict adherence to the dissection planes described above, is the prerequisite for good oncological and functional outcome. To facilitate dissection, we have introduced the high-pressure water jet dissector into our surgical routine for the treatment of rectal cancer. Below, we describe the technique of total mesorectal excision we employ in our department and present our perioperative surgical results.
Methods:
We performed total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer on 49 patients, comprising 32 males and 17 females aged between 34 and 88 years. 38 patients underwent low anterior resection of the rectum and 11 patients abdominoperineal resection.
Results:
The mean operating time was 282 min, mean intraoperative administration of red cell concentrates was 0.55 units. The mean postoperative stay in the ICU was 1.92 days. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 6.1%, wound healing disturbances in 12.2%, urinary tract infection in 12.2% intra-abdominal infection in 4.1% and faecal fistula in 4.1%. Urinary tract infections occurred in 12.2%. Postoperative temporary neurogenic voiding disturbances occurred in 14.3%. Persistent neurogenic bladder dysfunction after three months could be observed in 6.1%.
Conclusions:
The perioperative results are comparable to those of centres of excellence in the international literature. The Hydro-Jet dissector significantly facilitated TME. The particular feature of this technical aid is that it permits the rapid early development of the embryological plane between the pelvic nerves and the mesorectal fascia, without doing damage to either of them. This leads to optimal radicality and 1 maximum preservation of the autonomic nerves. Before a definitive pronouncement on voiding disturbances can be made, however, we consider it necessary to carry out a prospective randomised study with preoperative and postoperative urodynamic investigations.
