Abdominoperineal excision in Australasia: clinical outcomes, predictive factors and recent trends of nonrestorative rectal cancer surgery

Efficacy and long-term outcomes of abdominoperineal resection using transperineal total mesorectal excision approach for rectal cancer

PURPOSE

Although abdominoperineal resection (APR) is essential for a certain population of patients with low rectal cancer, it is technically difficult and sometimes contains oncological disadvantages. Thus, the use of the transperineal total mesorectal excision (TpTME) approach might overcome such concerns regarding APR.

METHODS

In total, 27 patients who underwent conventional APR (conventional group) and 49 patients who underwent APR using the TpTME approach (TpTME group) for low rectal cancer were included. After propensity score matching, the outcomes of the 25 matched cases were compared between groups.

RESULTS

The operative time was significantly shorter in the TpTME group than in the conventional group (452 vs. 565 min, P = 0.039). Intraoperative blood loss and transfusion rates were also significantly lower in the TpTME group than in the conventional group (25 mL vs. 200 mL, P < 0.001 and 0% vs. 28.0%, P = 0.015, respectively). Although the incidence of postoperative complications did not differ significantly, the postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the TpTME group than in the conventional group (24 vs. 36 days, P = 0.001). The 5 year relapse-free survival rates in the TpTME and conventional groups were 62.0% and 57.6%, respectively (P = 0.648).

CONCLUSION

APR using the TpTME approach for the treatment of low rectal cancer is feasible and can achieve favorable oncological outcomes.

Rectal washout during abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer has no impact on the oncological outcome

AIM

Intraoperative rectal washout is performed to eliminate exfoliated intraluminal cancer cells and thereby decrease the risk of local recurrence. Rectal washout in abdominoperineal resection has not been studied. The aim of this study was to assess the oncological outcome after rectal washout in abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer and to find evidence as to whether rectal washout should be performed or not.

METHOD

Data for all patients registered in the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry who underwent elective surgery with abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer (TNM Stages I-III) between 2007 and 2013 were analysed using multivariable analysis.

RESULTS

No significant differences were shown between the rectal washout group and the no rectal washout group for local recurrence [10/265 (3.8%) vs. 87/2160 (4.0%), p = 0.84], distant metastasis [51/265 (19.2%) vs. 476/2160 (22.0%), p = 0.29] or overall recurrence [53/265 (20.0%) vs. 505/2160 (23.4%), p = 0.21]. In multivariable analysis, rectal washout did not significantly affect the oncological outcome in terms of local recurrence, distant metastasis, overall recurrence or 5-year overall or relative survival.

CONCLUSION

Our results do not support routine rectal washout during abdominoperineal resection in order to improve the oncological outcome.