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Cola

surgical Instruments for open approach intervention: Open laparotomy through abdominal incision and mobilization of the colon and rectum up to the splenic flexure with high ligation of the inferior mesenteric vessels and mesorectal excision till the levator ani then the peranal approach to resect the distal margin of the rectum through high or low intersphincteric resection in the plane between internal and external anal sphincters.

instruments used: 4 or 5 laparoscopic trocars (two or three (10-mm) trocar, Two 5-mm trocars and a 12-mm trocar with reducers),Three 5-mm fenestrated grasping forceps, Five-millimetre coagulating shears, a 5-mm straight grasping forceps, Harmonic scalpel, 5 or 10 mm, a 10-mm fenestrated forceps, a 10-mm dissector,5 mm Bipolar grasper, a 5-mm needle holder, Twelve-millimetre linear staplers

intervention:

1. Trocar Placement and Exposure
2. Rectosigmoid Mobilization and Control of Inferior Mesenteric Vessels
3. Taking Down the Splenic Flexure
4. rectal dissection till the levator ani muscle and resection of thye lateral ligaments

then the peranal phase as in the laparotomy approach.

laparotomy arm: surgical Instruments for open approach operation: Abdominal anterior resection combined with peranal intersphincteric resection of the rectum

Abdominal step a high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery is performed together with a full mobilization of the left colon. A circular incision of the anal canal is performed 1 cm below the tumour. Both the mucosa and the muscular layer are incised to transect the internal anal sphincter. A coloanal anastomosis, transverse coloplasty or colonic J-pouch and a diverting loop ileostomy are associated with the hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis.

laparoscopic approach group: instruments used: laparoscopic instruments mentioned at the arm description

intervention: laparoscopic mobilization of the rectum and colon combined with the peranal intersphincteric resection as in the laparotomy approach

Open intersphincteric resection

minimally invasive approach group: instruments used: laparoscopic instruments mentioned at the arm description instruments: laparoscopic instruments mentioned in the laparoscopic rectal resection arm intervention: laparoscopic mobilization of the rectum and colon combined with the peranal intersphincteric resection as in the laparotomy approach

transanal minimally invasive intersphincteric resection

The two surgical options for lower 1/3 rectal cancer is APR and sphincter sparing procedures. Intersphincteric resection is procedure to treat very low rectal cancer within 2 cm from the dentate line to avoid permanent colostomy,improves the quality of life with better genitourinary function. Neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy is routine for T3 cases.

During the period between April 2013 and July 2019, a non-randomized controlled study was performed at two tertiary centers; Oncology Centre of Mansoura University and Policlinico Umberto Primo surgery department of SAPIENZA university of Rome after referral from the clinical oncology and nuclear medicine department. After diagnosis of ultralow rectal cancer, a written informed consent was obtained from patients after full explanation of the procedure, the likely outcome and the potential complications that may occur. Digital rectal examination was conducted to assess the distance of lower tumor margin from the anal verge and the anal tone. Anesthetic fitness and tumour markers (CEA) were assessed. Pelvis MRI and/or endorectal ultrasound (EUS), abdomen and chest CT scan and colonoscopy with biopsy were done for all cases. Re-evaluation after neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy by MRI and EUS. Inclusion criteria included a very low rectal cancer below 5 cm from the anal verge with normally continent and tumor-free external anal sphincter. Neoadjuvant treatment was given to all patients with T3 or node positive tumors. Exclusion criteria were T4, metastatic tumors and fecal incontinence. Fifty patients were excluded from the study (Fig.1). One hundred and ten patients with ultralow rectal adenocarcinoma, with matched age and sex (table 1), were non-randomly classified into two equal groups: the control group included 55 patents that underwent sphincter sparing by open ISR with TME (O-ISR Group) and the 2nd group included 55 patents that underwent Transanal minimally invasive ISR with TME (TAMIS Group).

Surgical technique:

In open ISR, the inferior mesenteric vessels were highly ligated. After full mobilization of the left colon and splenic flexure was done, the plane for TME was followed down in the pelvis superficial to the hypogastric fascia as low as possible to enter into the posterior intersphincteric plane. A non-endoscopic perineal phase was then initiated using an anal lone-star retractor to expose the anal canal. Both the mucosa and the muscular layer were incised 1cm below the tumor margin to transect the internal anal sphincter (IAS) and then closed by purse string sutures. The dissection continued between IAS and the external anal sphincter (EAS) starting posteriorly then laterally, where EAS is easier to identify, then anteriorly where the plane presented more adhesions with the urethra in male or vagina in female till reaching the abdominal dissection. Proximal division of the specimen started just below the site of inferior mesenteric vessels ligation and continued till division of the marginal artery at the site of the required anastomosis. The Specimen extraction and division was done extra-anal. A defunctioning ileostomy was done in all cases.

In TAMIS-TME, using a lone star retractor, the 1st step was to divide and close the anal canal by purse-string suturing to enter the intersphincteric plane. Using TEo platform (Karl Storz, Tuttilingen, Germany) (fig. 2) with a 4 cm size operating proctoscope diameter, Transanal endoscopic dissection was initiated and continued in the intersphincteric plane starting posteriorly then laterally. Partial or high ISR started at the dentate line to remove the upper half of IAS for ultralow tumors at 3 to 4.5 from anal verge. Total or low ISR started 1 cm below the dentate line, removing the whole of IAS for tumours below 3 cm from the anal verge. The endoscopic dissection continued in the same sequence as the control group along the levator ani. Then continue posteriorly till reaching as much as possible, then dissection continued laterally and anteriorly to reach the peritoneal reflection. Then, the laparoscopic phase was initiated to ligate the inferior mesenteric vessels and mobilize the splenic flexure and left colon. The peritoneal reflections were then divided to connect to the transanal part. The specimen was then extracted transanally and the Colo-anal anastomosis was done in two layers. A defunctioning ileostomy was done in all cases.

TaTME Versus Open Intersphincteric Resection After Neoadjuvant Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy.

Transanal Minimally Invasive TME (TaTME) Versus Open Intersphincteric Resection and Total Mesorectal Excision of Stage II/III Ultralow Rectal Cancer After Neoadjuvant Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy.

Amount of blood loss and blood transfusion through the operation

the onset of the intestinal motility guided by (the onset of borborygmus and its sequence, time to give off flatus, time to intake liquid and solid food)

Recording of the needed analgesia guided by pain score

Outcome observers will assess the hospital stay days after both procedures

readmission within 30 days after patient discharge

The patients will be observed after the operation for 2 years for local pelvic recurrence

Distant metastasis after the opertaion for 2 years

Investigators will assess the continence using Per Anal Scoring System (PASS) from 0 to 4

Mansoura University

Marche Polytechnic university, Ancona, Italy

Osama Mohammad Ali ElDamshety

oncology surgeon--Oncology Centre of Mansoura University (OCMU)

Patients of the control group who are to receive the traditional approach-- total mesorectal excision approach to transect the distal rectum are assigned into this arm.

Patients of the experimental group who are to receive the novel approach-- transanterior obturator nerve gateway approach to transect the distal rectum are assigned into this arm.

Distal rectal transection of cases in the experimental group will be performed using transanterior obturator nerve gateway approach

Transanterior obturator nerve gateway approach

Distal rectal transection of cases in the control group will be performed using total mesorectal excision approach

Total mesorectal excision approach

Jianqiang Tang, MD

The wide application of ISR and DST has greatly improved the anal preservation rate for low rectal cancers, but the technical difficulty has also been obviously increased because of the limited pelvic space. Although many scholars have tried to solve this problem, all the methods have failed to fundamentally solve the problem of "the oblique dissection" of the distal rectum. To solve the problem above, the director of this clinical trial has explored a new distal rectal resection method-- transanterior obturator nerve gateway approach. The purpose of this clinical trial is to prospectively collect and compare data on the patients' perioperative variables and postoperative functional and oncological outcomes of this novel approach with the traditional approach to confirm the safety and feasibility of this novel approach and its advantages over the traditional approach.

Objective To confirm the safety, feasibility and advantages by comparing the perioperative variables, postoperative functional and oncological outcomes of patients with ultralow rectal cancer treated by laparoscopic traditional distal rectal dissection vs. by transanterior obturator nerve gateway approach.

Patients Patients with ultralow (≤5cm from the anal verge) rectal cancer who are to undergo laparoscopic radical resection (ISR- DST) without any contraindications of general anesthesia, surgery or chemotherapy. (See details in Eligibility part) Sample size Two groups are designed, patients who are to receive the traditional approach to transect the distal rectum are assigned to the control group, patients who are to receive the transanterior obturator nerve gateway approach to transect the distal rectum are assigned to the experimental group. 100 cases are to be enrolled for the experimental group and not less than 100 cases are to be enrolled for the controlled group.

Treatment If the participant match with the requirements for this study and agree to take part in it, once hospitalized, the participant will complete the established preoperative tests including blood routine, the comprehensive metabolic panel, blood coagulation function, tumor markers, blood type, infectious disease screening tests, chest, abdominal and pelvic CT (Computed Tomography) scan and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), colonoscopy, echocardiogram, pulmonary function, venous duplex ultrasound of legs. All male patients will be routinely asked to fill in the IIEF-5 (International Index of Erectile Function-5) sexual function scoring questionnaire preoperatively.

The following comprehensive treatment will be depended on the examination results:

Neoadjuvant therapy The treatment plan will be made in accordance with the NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer (Version 1.2021).

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: Pelvis radiotherapy with a total dose of 50 Gy with 25 courses in 5 weeks. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy include single drug therapy: capecitabine (CAP, 1250 mg/m2, BID) or double drug therapy: oxaliplatin combined with capecitabine (CapeOX, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2, day 1, capecitabine 1000mg/ m2, day 1 \~ 14, then rest for 7 days, repeated every 3 weeks) or three-drug therapy (mFOLFOX6, oxaliplatin 85 mg/ m2 intravenous infusion for 2 hours, leucovorin calcium 400 mg/m2 intravenous infusion for 2 hours, 5-FU (fluorouracil) 400 mg/m2 intravenous infusion for 1 day, Then 1200 mg/ m2/d×2 days of continuous intravenous infusion with a total of 2400mg/m2 for 46 \~ 48 hours, repeated every 2 weeks.

Abdominal and pelvic MRI and contrast enhanced CT will be routinely performed 6 to 8 weeks after neoadjuvant therapy to confirm the extent of tumor regression without new-found distant metastasis. Those whose clinical stage after neoadjuvant therapy changes from T4 to T3 will be seen as eligible in this study.

Surgical treatment Preoperative preparation

1) Patients older than 60 years old or having a smoking history for over 10 years will receive lung ventilation training and atomization treatment for 3 days. 2) Intestinal preparation will be done with oral cathartic medications 12-24 hours before surgery. 3) Prophylactic antibiotics will be given once anesthesia is begun, the second antibiotics will be given if the operation lasts for over 3 hours. 4）Urethral catheterization will be routinely done preoperatively. 5）If the patient refuses to accept the novel approach before surgery, they will be directly enrolled in the traditional group. If both approaches are acceptable to the patient, the decision whether to use the novel approach will be made according to the intraoperative conditions (see operating procedures below).

Operating procedures General anesthesia; Modified lithotomy position; Establishment of pneumoperitoneum: Place a trocar 1cm above the umbilicus through which to establish pneumoperitoneum and keep the abdominal pressure as 12mmHg (millimeters of mercury).

Trocar placement: above the umbilicus (trocar C, 10 mm), upper right and left quadrants (trocars B and D, 5 mm), lower right quadrant (trocar A, 12 mm), lower left quadrant (trocar E, 5 mm), the midpoint between the pubic symphysis and umbilicus (trocar F, 5 mm).

Abdominal exploration: Explore the abdominal cavity in accordance with the principle of non-contact, from far to near step by step, explore the tumor finally.

The mesosigmoid and mesorectum are dissected from the right lateral rectum towards the root of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). The IMA is transected and ligated, so is the inferior mesenteric vein. Posterior space of the descending colon is dissected following opening the peritoneum beside the left rectum. The rectum in the pelvis is been mobilized from posterior rectal space, anterior rectal space to bilateral rectal space successively. The lower edge of the tumor is marked by a clamp. The linear stapler is placed in the pelvis to clamp the distal rectum below the tumor to see if the transection can be done more than 1cm from the lower edge of the tumor. If yes, the distal rectum will be transected by the traditional approach (that means the patient will be assigned to the traditional group). The proximal bowel is transected through a small midline incision. Then the coloanal anastomosis will be done intracorporeally. A surgical drain is placed in the pelvis and a terminal ileostomy is routinely performed. All incisions are closed.

If the distal rectal transection cannot be done more than 1cm from the lower edge of the tumor, the anterior obturator nerve gateway approach will be used (that means the patient will be assigned to the experimental group). The steps are as follows: The peritoneum covering the ureter and external iliac artery is opened more than 2 cm across the vas deferens (male) or round ligament (female). The Retzius space and vesicohypogastric fascia are exposed. The obturator vessels and obturator nerve are properly identified. Care should be taken to avoid any injury when using energy devices near the obturator nerve. The gateway is then opened through the TME (total mesorectal excision) compartment and the lateral compartment. If necessary, an "endoloop" can be placed through the gateway, and the bundled S2-4 nerves, ureter and bladder vessels are gently retracted toward the cranial direction to widen the gap. The linear stapler is placed in the gateway to vertically transect the distal rectum. The following procedures are the same with the traditional group as described above.

During the operation, the following variables will be recorded: the angle between the linear stapler and the rectum, distance from the lower edge to the resecting margin, whether the operation converted to transanal approach, operative time, bleeding volume, anastomotic height from anal verge and the length of the stapling line.

Postoperative management：

The following information will be recorded:

1）Vital signs (body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, blood pressure) are routinely monitored, gross volume of fluid input and output will be recorded every 24h, blood routine, the comprehensive metabolic panel and coagulation function tests will be performed every 3 days. 2）The time of catheter removal (days after operation), residual urine volume in the bladder will be measured by ultrasound examination. Whether there is a request to be re-catheterized or take oral medication to relive the dysuria. All patients will be asked to fulfil the IPSS (International prostate symptom score) questionnaire to assess urinary function. 3）The time of pelvic drain removal (days after operation). 4）Whether complicated with anastomotic leakage, ileus and long-lasting (more than 5 days) pulmonary or abdominal infection. 5）All information of the pathologic report. 6）Postoperative hospital stay (days) Postoperative chemoradiotherapy Radiotherapy program is the same with the neoadjuvant therapy. Chemotherapy will be advised for patients with stage II cancer accompanied with the following high-risk factors: histologically poorly differentiated with normal mismatched repair or stable microsatellite (MSS), pT4 (pathological stage T 4), vascular/nerve invasion, preoperative intestinal obstruction or perforation, ≤ 12 lymph nodes retrieved and R1 resection. The chemotherapy program is the same with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. If mismatch repair defect (dMMR) or high-level microsatellite instability (MSI-H) is confirmed by pathology, chemotherapy will not be advised. Patients with stage III cancer will routinely receive chemotherapy.

Follow-up

1) Information on general medical history and physical examination will be collected every 3 months for 3 years. 2) Blood tumor markers of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) and CA19-9 (carbohydrate antigen 19-9) will be tested every 3 months for 3 years. 3) Abdominal and pelvic ultrasound and chest X-ray examinations will be carried out every 3 months for 3 years. 4) Abdominal and pelvic MRI or contrast enhanced CT scan will be done every year for 3 years. 5) Colonoscopy will be performed within 1 year after surgery. If there is any abnormity, reexamination will be required within half a year. If no abnormality is found, once a year for 3 years. All new-found adenomas by the colonoscopy during follow-up are recommended to be resected. 6) Sexual function score is assessed by filling in the questionnaire (IIEF-5) both preoperatively and 1 year later since operation. 7) 3-year tumor-free survival (month): The time from operation to confirmation of tumor's local recurrence or distant metastasis. The end point of the patient lost to follow-up is the date of loss. 30 days is defined as one month. 8) 3-year overall survival (month): The time from operation to death. The end point of the patient lost to follow-up is the date of loss. 30 days is defined as one month. 9) Stoma closure time (months since operation). Anal function is assessed by Wexner scale 3 months and 12 months after stoma closure, respectively.

(As to possible risks and benefits of participating in this trial, see details in the informed consent document.) Study start date (actual) 2020-12-01 Study completion date (anticipated) 2025-12-01 (All outcomes of the last patient are recorded 3 years postoperatively, death or loss to follow-up of the last patient.) Statistics IBM SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) Statistics 25 (IBM, Inc., Armonk, NY) will be used to perform statistical analyses. The t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for quantitative data between groups. Qualitative data were compared by Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and survival distributions were analyzed by log-rank test.

A Study on the Efficacy of a Novel Approach to Achieving Laparoscopic Distal Rectal Transection for Rectal Cancers

A Prospective Non-randomized Controlled Multi-center Study of Laparoscopic Intracorporeal Distal Rectal Transection by Using the Traditional Approach vs. Using Transanterior Obturator Nerve Gateway Approach for Ultralow Rectal Cancers

There is not a plan to make IPD available.

The degree of angle between the linear stapler and the longitudinal axis of the rectum when transecting the distal rectum.

The degree of angle between the simulated stapling line with the total mesorectal excision approach and the real stapling line with the transanterior obturator nerve gateway approach (this outcome is measured only in patients of the experimental group).

The shortest distance between the distal border of the tumor and the edge of the distal resection.

The gross conversion rate (No. of cases undergoing conversion/total No. of cases enrolled \*100%) will be calculated immediately after the last patient's surgery.

The gross anastomotic leakage rate (No. of cases diagnosed with anastomotic leakage/total No. of cases enrolled \*100%) will be calculated 6 months after the last patient's surgery. Anastomotic leakage will be diagnosed if the patient has clinically apparent leakage signs (such as the emission of gas, pus, or feces from the pelvic drain, or peritonitis) or extravasation of endoluminally administered watersoluble contrast medium according to CT.

The time between the first incision and final closure of the operation.

The gross volume of blood loss during the operation.

Distance between the coloanal anastomosis and the anal verge.

The length of the lower stapling margin of the specimen.

Days from operation to discharge from hospital.

Urinary retention is defined as requiring a second urinary catheterization or postvoid residual urine volume ≥ 50ml by ultrasound examination after first removal of the urinary catheter.

See IPSS scale in study protocol. Total score: 0-35 points, higher scores mean worse outcome.

See Wexner score in study protocol. Total score: 0-20 points, higher scores mean worse outcome.

See IIEF-5 scale in study protocol. Total score: 5-25 points, higher scores mean better outcome.

The percentage of people who are alive after 3 years from operation.

The percentage of patients who are alive without cancer relapse or metastasis after 3 years from operation.

Study title	NCT ID	Conditions	Interventions	Eligibility	Organization
TaTME Versus Open Intersphincteric Resection After Neoadjuvant Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy.	NCT01836926	Rectal Cancer	Open intersphin... transanal minim...	18 Years - 80 Years	Mansoura University
A Study on the Efficacy of a Novel Approach to Achieving Laparoscopic Distal Rectal Transection for Rectal Cancers	NCT05067413	Rectal Neoplasm...	Transanterior o... Total mesorecta...	18 Years - 80 Years	Peking University First Hospital
A Study on the Efficacy of a Novel Approach to Achieving Laparoscopic Distal Rectal Transection for Rectal Cancers	NCT05067413	Rectal Neoplasm...	Transanterior o... Total mesorecta...	18 Years - 80 Years	Peking University First Hospital

Spots Global Cancer Trial Database for ultralow rectal cancer