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Notes total mesorectal excision (TME) for patients with rectal neoplasia: a preliminary experience

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Abstract

Background

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) and single-incision laparoscopy are emerging, minimally invasive techniques. Total mesorectal excision (TME), the gold standard treatment for patients with resectable distal rectal tumors, is usually performed in an “up-to-down” approach, either laparoscopically or via open techniques. A transanal, “down-to-up” TME has already been reported. Our NOTES variant of TME (NOTESTME) is based on a transperineal approach without any form of abdominal assistance. The aim was to reduce further the invasiveness of the procedure while optimizing the anatomical definition of the distal mesorectum. This approach may lead to reduced postoperative pain, decreased hernia formation and improved cosmesis when compared to standard laparoscopy.

Methods

NOTESTME was attempted in 16 patients with distal rectal neoplasia (i.e., distal edge of the tumor lower than the pouch of Douglas, between 0 and 12 cm from the dentate line). Additional inclusion criteria consisted of an ASA status ≤III and the absence of previous abdominal surgery.

Results

NOTESTME was completed in all patients. Additional abdominal, single-incision laparoscopic assistance was required in 6 (38 %) patients. Mean operative time was 265 min (range 155–440 min). The morbidity rate was 18.8 % (two small bowel obstructions and one pelvic abscess), requiring re-operation in each case. No leaks occurred, and the mortality rate at 30 and 90 days was 0 %. Resection margins were negative in all patients. A median of 17 nodes (range 12–81) was retrieved per specimen. Mean length of hospital stay was 10 days (range 4–29 days). Patients were followed for an average of 7 months (range 3–23 months).

Conclusion

NOTESTME was feasible and safe in this series of patients with mid- or low rectal tumors. The short-term mortality and morbidity rates are acceptable, with no apparent compromise in the oncological quality of the resection. Larger, randomized controlled trials with long-term follow-up are warranted.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Joey Marie Robinson for her language and editorial assistance with this manuscript.

Disclosures

Drs. Elie Chouillard, Elias Chahine, Georges Khoury, Beatrice Vinson Bonnet, Andrew Gumbs, Daniel Azoulay and Eddie Abdalla have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Poissy/Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 10 rue du Champ Gaillard, 78300, Poissy, France

    E. Chouillard, E. Chahine & B. Vinson-Bonnet

  2. Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Lebanese American University (LAU) Hospital, RIZK Clinic, Beirut, Lebanon

    G. Khoury & E. Abdalla

  3. Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Summit Medical Group, 1 Diamond Hill Rd., Berkeley Heights, NJ, 07922, USA

    A. Gumbs

  4. Department of Digestive, Hepatobiliary, and Liver Transplantation Surgery, Université Paris Est Créteil (UPEC), Hôpital Henri Mondor, 51 avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94010, Créteil Cedex, France

    D. Azoulay

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  1. E. Chouillard
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  2. E. Chahine
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  3. G. Khoury
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  7. E. Abdalla
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. Chouillard.

Additional information

On behalf of The Intercontinental Society of Natural Orifice, Endoscopic, and Laparoscopic Surgery (i-NOELS), France.

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Chouillard, E., Chahine, E., Khoury, G. et al. Notes total mesorectal excision (TME) for patients with rectal neoplasia: a preliminary experience. Surg Endosc 28, 3150–3157 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-014-3573-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-014-3573-z

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