Simple instruments facilitating achievement of transanal total mesorectal excision in male patients

Table 1 Clinical characteristics of male patients with low rectal cancer n (%)

Variable	Group A, n = 41	Group B, n = 74	P value
Age in yr1	62.4 ± 11.2	59.0 ± 12.6	0.630
ASA score			0.787
1	6 (14.6)	8 (10.8)
2	24 (58.5)	43 (58.1)
3	11 (26.8)	23 (31.1)
BMI1	24.8 ± 2.3	25.0 ± 2.8	0.193
Intertuberous diameter in mm2	98 (83-110)	99 (86-111)	0.426
Distance of tumors from the anal verge in mm2	4 (0.5-5)	4 (1-5)	0.160
Tumor diameter in mm2	50 (40-70)	50 (40-70)	0.679
Laparoscopy for abdominal operation	17 (41.5)	43 (58.1)	0.087
Ostomy	18 (43.9)	72 (97.3)	0.000
Operators			0.815
A	26 (63.4)	51 (68.9)
B	9 (22.0)	13 (17.6)
C	6 (14.6)	10 (13.5)
Neoadjuvant radiotherapy	3 (12.5)	16 (35.6)	0.041
Adjuvant radiotherapy	2 (7.7)	4 (11.8)	0.602
Adjuvant chemotherapy	16 (55.2)	32 (64.0)	0.439
pT			0.458
pT1	2 (4.9)	4 (5.4)
pT2	12 (29.3)	30 (40.5)
pT3	27 (65.9)	40 (54.1)
TNM stage			0.189
Stage I	12 (29.3)	28 (37.8)
Stage II	13 (31.7)	29 (39.2)
Stage III	16 (39.0)	17 (23.0)

¹Values are mean ± SD;

²Values are median (range). Group A: A classical approach; Group B: A modified approach with retrograde transanal total mesorectal excision. BMI: Body mass index; TNM: Tumor node metastasis.