Totally robotic surgery for rectal cancer with transanal specimen extraction

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical experience of transanal specimen extraction with robot-sewn anastomosis technique.MethodsThe clinical data of 16 cases performed rectal cancer resection by the da Vinci robotic system with transanal specimen extraction and robot-sewn anastomosis technique between July 2012 and December 2012 in General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsThere were 9 males and 7 females with age 46-84 years old,and BMI 18.8-28.8 kg/m2.All the cases(13 cases of rectal cancer,2 cases of rectal villous tubular adenomas,1 case of rectal carcinoid tumors)were performed robotic surgery successfully without intraoperative conversion.The operative time was 160-610 min [mean(220.4±24.5)min].The blood loss was below 50mL.The time to first flatus was 18-74 hours [mean(27.3±7.5)hours] postoperatively.The postoperative hospital stay was 5-10 days [mean(6.2±2.1)days].The number of lymph node harvested from the surgical specimen was 2-39(mean 18.2±7.6).TNM stage:2 cases of stageⅠ,7 cases of stage II,4 cases of stage Ⅲ.All the resection margins were negative.There was no local surgical complication.ConclusionTotally robotic surgery for rectal cancer with transanal specimen extraction is safe and feasible.