OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and clinical significance of pelvic floor reconstruction in extralevator abdominoperineal excision(ELAPE) for advanced low rectal cancer.

METHODSThe clinical efficacy was retrospectively analyzed in 30 patients with low rectal cancer who underwent ELAPE from January 2013 to December 2016 in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School. There were 21 male patients and 9 female, with an average age of 61.7 years old. We used 13*15 cm Biodesign biologic meshes(Cook, China) for the reconstruction and the procedure involved soaking in saline solution for 5 minutes and fixation of the mesh to the cut edges of the levators by non-absorbable 2-0 sutures. A perineal drain was used and was removed when drainage was minimal. Potassium permanganate was used for hip bath after removing the stitches. The surgical procedure, postoperative complications, prognosis and follow-up of all these patients were documented.

RESULTSThe operations of all patients were completed successfully. ELAPE could remove more para cancer tissues in the distant rectum. There was no rectum perforation, and the circumferential resection margins of all specimens were proved to be negative. During the follow-up of 21 months, only 2 patients suffered incision infection and healed uneventfully after strengthening the dressing. No one developed perineal breakdown, bulge or intestinal obstruction, as well as local recurrence and pelvic floor hernia. There was also no complication related to mesh. The average hospitalization time was 10 days (9-15 days).

CONCLUSIONSThe ELAPE could render a low occurrence of intraoperative perforations and circumferential resection margins. Reconstruction of pelvic floor with biologic meshmight lower the complication incidences associated with the perineal region.