Purpose: Early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage (AL) after colorectal surgery can reduce severe postoperative morbidity and ensure successful treatment. This study evaluated the feasibility of bedside endoscopic inspection of the anastomosis early postoperatively using a point-of-care digital rectoscope. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at 2 tertiary centers. Patients who underwent minimally invasive or open sphincter-preserving surgery with creation of a colorectal or coloanal anastomosis were included. Data were collected from December 2022 to October 2023. Bedside anastomotic inspections were performed postoperative day (POD) 3 to 5 using a point-of-care digital rectoscope. The primary outcome was feasibility, defined as adequate clinical assessment of the anastomosis during bedside inspection. Secondary outcomes included patient tolerability, efficacy compared to other diagnostic methods, and clinical outcomes during 90 days of follow-up. Results: In total, 35 patients were included. All bedside anastomotic inspections were carried out successfully. The examination showed complete visibility of the entire anastomosis in 30 patients (85.7%), with minimal discomfort reported by 3 (8.6%). No adverse events were recorded. AL occurred in 6 patients (17.1%), with 3 cases detected during bedside inspections between POD 3 and 5. Two leaks were detected without clinical or biochemical suspicion. Three patients with negative rectoscopy between POD 3 and 5 were later diagnosed with AL: 2 by a computed tomography scan and 1 by a bedside rectoscopy. Conclusion Bedside inspection of rectal anastomoses early postoperatively is feasible and tolerable for patients. Routine anastomotic inspections can detect early AL even without clear clinical or biochemical signs.

Purpose: Early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage (AL) after colorectal surgery can reduce severe postoperative morbidity and ensure successful treatment. This study evaluated the feasibility of bedside endoscopic inspection of the anastomosis early postoperatively using a point-of-care digital rectoscope. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at 2 tertiary centers. Patients who underwent minimally invasive or open sphincter-preserving surgery with creation of a colorectal or coloanal anastomosis were included. Data were collected from December 2022 to October 2023. Bedside anastomotic inspections were performed postoperative day (POD) 3 to 5 using a point-of-care digital rectoscope. The primary outcome was feasibility, defined as adequate clinical assessment of the anastomosis during bedside inspection. Secondary outcomes included patient tolerability, efficacy compared to other diagnostic methods, and clinical outcomes during 90 days of follow-up. Results: In total, 35 patients were included. All bedside anastomotic inspections were carried out successfully. The examination showed complete visibility of the entire anastomosis in 30 patients (85.7%), with minimal discomfort reported by 3 (8.6%). No adverse events were recorded. AL occurred in 6 patients (17.1%), with 3 cases detected during bedside inspections between POD 3 and 5. Two leaks were detected without clinical or biochemical suspicion. Three patients with negative rectoscopy between POD 3 and 5 were later diagnosed with AL: 2 by a computed tomography scan and 1 by a bedside rectoscopy. Conclusion Bedside inspection of rectal anastomoses early postoperatively is feasible and tolerable for patients. Routine anastomotic inspections can detect early AL even without clear clinical or biochemical signs.

Purpose: Early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage (AL) after colorectal surgery can reduce severe postoperative morbidity and ensure successful treatment. This study evaluated the feasibility of bedside endoscopic inspection of the anastomosis early postoperatively using a point-of-care digital rectoscope. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at 2 tertiary centers. Patients who underwent minimally invasive or open sphincter-preserving surgery with creation of a colorectal or coloanal anastomosis were included. Data were collected from December 2022 to October 2023. Bedside anastomotic inspections were performed postoperative day (POD) 3 to 5 using a point-of-care digital rectoscope. The primary outcome was feasibility, defined as adequate clinical assessment of the anastomosis during bedside inspection. Secondary outcomes included patient tolerability, efficacy compared to other diagnostic methods, and clinical outcomes during 90 days of follow-up. Results: In total, 35 patients were included. All bedside anastomotic inspections were carried out successfully. The examination showed complete visibility of the entire anastomosis in 30 patients (85.7%), with minimal discomfort reported by 3 (8.6%). No adverse events were recorded. AL occurred in 6 patients (17.1%), with 3 cases detected during bedside inspections between POD 3 and 5. Two leaks were detected without clinical or biochemical suspicion. Three patients with negative rectoscopy between POD 3 and 5 were later diagnosed with AL: 2 by a computed tomography scan and 1 by a bedside rectoscopy. Conclusion Bedside inspection of rectal anastomoses early postoperatively is feasible and tolerable for patients. Routine anastomotic inspections can detect early AL even without clear clinical or biochemical signs.

Purpose: Early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage (AL) after colorectal surgery can reduce severe postoperative morbidity and ensure successful treatment. This study evaluated the feasibility of bedside endoscopic inspection of the anastomosis early postoperatively using a point-of-care digital rectoscope. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at 2 tertiary centers. Patients who underwent minimally invasive or open sphincter-preserving surgery with creation of a colorectal or coloanal anastomosis were included. Data were collected from December 2022 to October 2023. Bedside anastomotic inspections were performed postoperative day (POD) 3 to 5 using a point-of-care digital rectoscope. The primary outcome was feasibility, defined as adequate clinical assessment of the anastomosis during bedside inspection. Secondary outcomes included patient tolerability, efficacy compared to other diagnostic methods, and clinical outcomes during 90 days of follow-up. Results: In total, 35 patients were included. All bedside anastomotic inspections were carried out successfully. The examination showed complete visibility of the entire anastomosis in 30 patients (85.7%), with minimal discomfort reported by 3 (8.6%). No adverse events were recorded. AL occurred in 6 patients (17.1%), with 3 cases detected during bedside inspections between POD 3 and 5. Two leaks were detected without clinical or biochemical suspicion. Three patients with negative rectoscopy between POD 3 and 5 were later diagnosed with AL: 2 by a computed tomography scan and 1 by a bedside rectoscopy. Conclusion Bedside inspection of rectal anastomoses early postoperatively is feasible and tolerable for patients. Routine anastomotic inspections can detect early AL even without clear clinical or biochemical signs.

Purpose: Early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage (AL) after colorectal surgery can reduce severe postoperative morbidity and ensure successful treatment. This study evaluated the feasibility of bedside endoscopic inspection of the anastomosis early postoperatively using a point-of-care digital rectoscope. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at 2 tertiary centers. Patients who underwent minimally invasive or open sphincter-preserving surgery with creation of a colorectal or coloanal anastomosis were included. Data were collected from December 2022 to October 2023. Bedside anastomotic inspections were performed postoperative day (POD) 3 to 5 using a point-of-care digital rectoscope. The primary outcome was feasibility, defined as adequate clinical assessment of the anastomosis during bedside inspection. Secondary outcomes included patient tolerability, efficacy compared to other diagnostic methods, and clinical outcomes during 90 days of follow-up. Results: In total, 35 patients were included. All bedside anastomotic inspections were carried out successfully. The examination showed complete visibility of the entire anastomosis in 30 patients (85.7%), with minimal discomfort reported by 3 (8.6%). No adverse events were recorded. AL occurred in 6 patients (17.1%), with 3 cases detected during bedside inspections between POD 3 and 5. Two leaks were detected without clinical or biochemical suspicion. Three patients with negative rectoscopy between POD 3 and 5 were later diagnosed with AL: 2 by a computed tomography scan and 1 by a bedside rectoscopy. Conclusion Bedside inspection of rectal anastomoses early postoperatively is feasible and tolerable for patients. Routine anastomotic inspections can detect early AL even without clear clinical or biochemical signs.

The number of colorectal cancer patients in China ranks the top in the world, but there are few international guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer formulated by Chinese, nor high-level evidence-based medicine research of colorectal cancer from China. Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) is a new technology in the field of colorectal surgery in recent years. At present, clinical practice related to taTME has been carried out simul-taneously with clinical researches in the world. Based on the experience of participating in the top clinical trials in the field of international colorectal surgery, like the COLOR series prospective research, the authors introduce the organization and implementation of COLOR Ⅲ research in China. It is hoped that the COLOR series trials will become an example in the field of high-quality surgical clinical research, so as to improve the clinical research level of colorectal surgery in China.