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Updated: May 25, 2026
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Robot-assisted Total Mesorectal Excision and Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection for Locally Advanced Middle-low Rectal Cancer
Published on: February 12, 2022
Current status of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision
Jayprakash Gopall1, Xiong Fei Shen, Yong Cheng
1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China.
American Journal of Surgery
|January 25, 2012
Summary
Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision shows benefits for rectal cancer surgery. However, open resection remains the standard due to a lack of large randomized studies supporting laparoscopic approaches.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Oncology
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
Background:
- Rectal cancer is a significant cause of mortality.
- Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LTME) is an evolving treatment option.
- Standardized approaches for LTME are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current status of LTME for rectal cancer.
- To highlight the benefits and limitations of LTME.
- To emphasize the need for further research.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed (1993-2010).
- Keywords included "total mesorectal excision," "rectal cancer," and "laparoscopic surgery."
- Additional data from the American Cancer Society, Cochrane Database, and meta-analyses were included.
Main Results:
- Ninety-six articles were selected, including RCTs, comparative studies, case series, and reviews.
- Exclusion criteria focused on non-English articles and case reports.
- Meta-analyses were also reviewed.
Conclusions:
- Open resection is currently the standard treatment for rectal cancer.
- The benefits of LTME in rectal cancer management are evident.
- Limited large-scale prospective randomized studies hinder the widespread adoption of LTME.
