OBJECTIVETo summarize clinical experience in the treatment of low rectal cancer with anterior perineal plane for ultra-low anterior resection of the rectum(APPEAR).

METHODSClinical and follow-up data of 26 patients with low rectal cancer undergoing the APPEAR operation in Department of General Surgery at Peking Union Medical College from September 2009 to August 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe 26 cases consisted of 19 male and 7 female patients with an average age of (63.4 ± 9.5) years. The average tumor distance from the anal verge was (4.6 ± 0.7) cm according to preoperative examinations. Fourteen patients received neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy before the operation. All the 26 patients had successful sphincter-preserving operations. The average operative time was (170 ± 21) min and the average intra-operative blood loss (140 ± 69) ml. Complications included one case of intraoperative injury to the rectal wall and 4 cases of postoperative perineal wound infection. Postoperative pathological examination showed well to moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas(n=10), moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas with partial mucinous adenocarcinomas (n=7), poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma(n=1), villous adenoma with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (n=1), and rectal villous adenoma(n=1). In 6 cases no residual tumor cells were detected in the surgical specimens. All the patients were followed-up for an average period of(11.4 ± 5.6) months. No impaired urinary function or tumor recurrence was observed during the follow-up. Eighteen patients had the transverse colon stoma closure six months after the operation. The average Wexner continence score was 5.5 after colostomy reversal surgery. The anorectal manometry tests showed that maximum squeeze pressure of the anal sphincter was(224.0 ± 59.3) mm Hg. The maximum resting pressure was (42.5 ± 11.8) mm Hg, and the maximum tolerable volume of the rectum was (120.0 ± 27.4) ml. Anorectal reflexes were present in all these patients.

CONCLUSIONThe APPEAR technique can be applied in the sphincter-preserving operations for low rectal cancer patients with satisfactory anal function.