Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer

The laparoscopic; total mesorectal excision (LTME) for rectal cancer was a difficult technique and its outcome was controversial. The complications were very high especially in sphincter saving procedure of lower rectal cancer. We enrolled 166 patients for study, who underwent LTME for rectal cancer from July 1998 to April 2002. Analysis of data was mainly on patient profile, operative complication and short-term oncological outcome. These 166 patients, 101 men and 65 women, had a median age of 64.2 years (28 - 96). One operative mortality (0.6%) occurred and 14 patients (8.4%) had major complications. The recurrence rate of rectal cancer with LTME was 15.2%, which was encouraging and seem no worse than open surgery (18.8%) in the same FU period (18 similar to 51 m, av. 25.7 m). Conclusions: The LTME for rectal cancer was feasible and the protective ileostomy is needed in handsewn coloanal anastomosis for lower rectal cancer.