Transanal total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: a multicentric cohort study

Area of Science:

• Colorectal Surgery
• Surgical Oncology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) is an emerging surgical technique for rectal cancer.
• It potentially offers improved distal rectal access and pathological outcomes compared to traditional methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and safety of taTME in rectal cancer treatment.
• To summarize preliminary clinical experience with taTME across 10 Chinese hospitals.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of data from 211 patients who underwent taTME.
• Evaluation of safety, feasibility, and oncologic outcomes, including complication rates and resection margins.

Main Results:

• The procedure had a median operating time of 280 minutes and a 27.9% overall complication rate.
• Complete total mesorectal excision (TME) was achieved in 82.9% of patients with a 97.7% negative circumferential resection margin.
• Disease-free survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 94.8%, 89.3%, and 80.2%, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) is a safe and feasible option for carefully selected rectal cancer patients.
• The study highlights the potential of taTME, but emphasizes the need for rigorous data recording in future research.