Pure natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery for rectal cancer: Ta-TME and CME without abdominal assistance

Abstract

Summary: Aim: To report our institution's experiences with pure transanal total mesorectal excision (TME) of rectal cancer using single-port equipment and to discuss the feasibility and safety of the technique. Methods: Between February and December 2017, 12 patients who were selected underwent NOTES TME in our institution. The preoperative assessment included blood analyses with carcinoembryonic antigen serum concentration, full colonoscopy, pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and chest. Results: Ten patients (male:female, 6:4) treated with transanal TME with colorectal anastomosis in our institution were reviewed. Pure TME was performed without laparoscopic assistance in 6 of 10 patients. The mean operative time was 303.5 min. The median distal margin was 2.1 (0.2–4.2) cm. The median number of harvested lymph nodes is 17.5. Except one patient with anastomotic leak, most patients started dietary intake on postoperative day (POD) 3 and were discharged on POD 7. Anastomotic leak was the only postoperative complication. Conclusion: This study showed that pure natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) TME with coloanal anastomosis for rectal cancer is safe and feasible in selected cases. Keywords: NOTES, Transanal TME, Rectal cancer