Original Article
Translational/basic research
- Exfoliate cancer cell analysis in rectal cancer surgery: comparison of laparoscopic and transanal total mesorectal excision, a pilot study
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Kiho You, Jung-Ah Hwang, Dae Kyung Sohn, Dong Woon Lee, Sung Sil Park, Kyung Su Han, Chang Won Hong, Bun Kim, Byung Chang Kim, Sung Chan Park, Jae Hwan Oh
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Ann Coloproctol. 2023;39(6):502-512. Published online December 26, 2023
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2023.00479.0068
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Graphical Abstract
Abstract
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Supplementary Material

- Purpose
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is currently the standard treatment for rectal cancer. However, its limitations include complications and incomplete total mesorectal resection (TME) due to anatomical features and technical difficulties. Transanal TME (TaTME) has been practiced since 2010 to improve this, but there is a risk of local recurrence and intra-abdominal contamination. We aimed to analyze samples obtained through lavage to compare laparoscopic TME (LapTME) and TaTME.
Methods
From June 2020 to January 2021, 20 patients with rectal cancer undergoing MIS were consecutively and prospectively recruited. Samples were collected at the start of surgery, immediately after TME, and after irrigation. The samples were analyzed for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 20 (CK20) through a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The primary outcome was to compare the detected amounts of CEA and CK20 immediately after TME between the surgical methods.
Results
Among the 20 patients, 13 underwent LapTME and 7 underwent TaTME. Tumor location was lower in TaTME (7.3 cm vs. 4.6 cm, P=0.012), and negative mesorectal fascia (MRF) was more in LapTME (76.9% vs. 28.6%, P=0.044). CEA and CK20 levels were high in 3 patients (42.9%) only in TaTME. There was 1 case of T4 with incomplete purse-string suture and 1 case of positive MRF with dissection failure. All patients were followed up for an average of 32.5 months without local recurrence.
Conclusion
CEA and CK20 levels were high only in TaTME and were related to tumor factors or intraoperative events. However, whether the detection amount is clinically related to local recurrence remains unclear.
Review
- Optimal anastomotic technique in rectal surgery to prevent anastomotic leakage
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Daichi Kitaguchi, Masaaki Ito
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Ann Coloproctol. 2023;39(2):97-105. Published online January 3, 2023
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2022.00787.0112
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Abstract
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- Complications after colorectal surgery remain inevitable, and anastomotic leakage is one of the most severe and potentially fatal complications. Generally, anastomotic leakage is associated with severe peritonitis, the need for emergency reoperation, and an increased mortality rate. Additionally, particularly after rectal cancer surgery, it has a negative impact on long-term outcomes, including postoperative anorectal function, local recurrence, and survival. To prevent anastomotic leakage, understanding the characteristics of each anastomotic technique and establishing a stable anastomotic procedure are important. Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) is a relatively new advanced surgical access technique for pelvic dissection and facilitates different anastomotic techniques without the need for transabdominal rectal transection. Especially, stapled anastomosis in TaTME, also known as double purse-string circular stapled anastomosis or the single stapling technique (SST), has gained much attention as an alternative to the conventional double stapling technique (DST). In this article, we describe the DST, SST, and hand-sewn anastomosis as anastomotic techniques after rectal surgery, focusing mainly on the differences between conventional anastomotic techniques and SST in TaTME. Furthermore, the blood flow evaluation method for the reconstructive colon before anastomosis, which is extremely important in anastomotic leakage prevention regardless of the anastomotic type, is also described.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by

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