Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Robot-assisted Total Mesorectal Excision and Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection for Locally Advanced Middle-low Rectal Cancer
Published on: February 12, 2022
[Functional impairment and quality of life after rectal cancer surgery]
Laura Mora1, Alba Zarate1, Xavier Serra-Aracil1
1Servicio de Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Sabadell (Barcelona), España.
Objective:
This study determines the quality of life and the anorectal function of these patients.
Method:
Observational study of two cohorts comparing patients undergoing rectal tumor surgery using TaETM or conventional ETM after a minimum of six months of intestinal transit reconstruction. EORTC-30, EORTC-29 quality of life questionnaires and the anorectal function assessment questionnaire (LARS score) are applied. General variables are also collected.
Results:
31 patients between 2011 and 2014: 15 ETM group and 16 TaETM. We do not find statistically significant differences in quality of life questionnaires or in anorectal function. Statistically significant general variables: longer surgical time in the TaETM group. Nosocomial infection and minor suture failure in the TaETM group.
Conclusion:
The performance of TaETM achieves the same results in terms of quality of life and anorectal function as conventional ETM.
Related Concept Videos
Functions of Life
Metabolism
The basic function of an organism is to consume energy and molecules in foods, convert some of it into fuel for movement, sustain body functions, and build and maintain body structures. There are two types of reactions that accomplish this: anabolism and catabolism.
Anabolism is the process whereby...
Half-life of a Reaction
Characteristics of Life
The Angiosperm Life Cycle
Assessing Body Temperature - Rectal
Follow these steps for rectal temperature assessment:
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene and don clean gloves to prevent cross-infection.
Step 2: Position the patient in a side-lying position to better visualize the rectal...
The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes

