OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and application value of improved anvil placement in laparoscopic resection of low rectal cancer with resection of anal eversion.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed on 17 patients who were operated by improved extracorporeal anvil placement in laparoscopic resection of low rectal cancer with resection of anal eversion at Huaihe Hospital of Henan University during June 2015 and June 2017.

INCLUSION CRITERIA(1) distance from tumor low margin to anal edge was 4 to 6 cm; (2) protrusive type tumor with a circumferential diameter of less than 3 cm; (3) ulcer type tumor with circumferential bowel infiltration of less than 1/2; (4) no distant metastasis(M0) and preoperative MRI of pelvic floor indicating T1-3N0. Patients with BMI>35 kg/m, or insufficient length of sigmoid and mesentery, or thickening sigmoid and mesentery were excluded. According to total mesorectal excision(TME) principle, rectum and its mesentery was resected completely; the sigmoid colon was cut off at the superior margin of tumor; the oval forceps was placed through anus to clamp and evert the rectum out of the anus; the rectum was transected at 1-2 cm from the lower edge of the tumor; the distal sigmoid colon was pulled out through anus; purse string suture was made after insertion of anvil and was restored to the abdominal cavity; end-to-end anastomosis of the rectum and sigmoid colon was performed after closing rectal stump.

RESULTSOf 17 low rectal cancer patients, 10 were male and 7 were female with age of 42 to 71 (median 58) years old and BMI of 20.6 to 33.5(median 26) kg/m. Preoperative staging indicated 2 cases of stage I, 15 cases of stage II. Distance from tumor low margin to anal edge was 4 to 6(median 5.0) cm and diameter of tumor was 3.4 to 4.8 (median 4.2) cm. All the patients completed operations successfully without conversion to laparotomy. The operation time was 124 to 182 (median 136) minutes. Distal sigmoid colon was difficult to pull out in 1 patient due to the insufficient free of the mesosigmoid, which was then successful after the mesosigmoid was dissociated with laparoscopy thoroughly again. The intraoperative blood loss was 10 to 50 (median 20) ml. Postoperative pathology reveled 2 cases of stage I, 12 cases of stageII and 3 cases of stage III; 1 case of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, 15 cases of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and 1 case of highly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The postoperative exhaust time was 24 to 128 (median 36) hours and hospital stay was 5 to 15 (median 8) days. No anastomotic leakage and intra-abdominal infection was found. Fifteen patients were followed up for 5 to 24 months without local recurrence or distant metastasis.

CONCLUSIONThe improved anvil placement in laparoscopic resection of low rectal cancer with resection of anal eversion without abdominal incision is safe and feasible.