OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience and short-term clinical outcomes of hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) in sphincter-preserving surgery for low and ultralow rectal cancer.

METHODSData of 49 patients with rectal cancer who underwent HALS for low or ultralow anterior resection between January 2010 and January 2011 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe proximal resection margin was (14.3±6.9) cm and the distal margin was(4.3±1.9) cm. The mean operative time was(128.3±70.9) min. On postoperative macroscopic evaluation, the mesorectum was intact in 42 cases, nearly intact in 7 cases. The circumferential resection margin was more than 2 mm in 42 cases, and less than 2 mm in 7 cases. Forty-six patients underwent R0 resection, and 3 cases underwent R1 resection. The median retrieved lymph node (LN) was 16.20±9.23, and the median positive LN was 1.12±2.19. Postoperative pathological examination showed TNM stage was I( in 12 patients, II(A in 18, II(B in 1, III(A in 2, III(B in 8, III(C in 5, IIII( in 3. The median postoperative hospital stay was (6.25±3.87) d. There were no anastomotic leakage, ileus, intra-abdominal or anastomotic bleeding. There were two wound infections.

CONCLUSIONLow and ultralow anterior resection for rectal cancer using HALS approach is safe and feasible with favorable short-term outcome.