Application of modified primary closure of the pelvic floor in laparoscopic extralevator abdominal perineal excision for low rectal cancer

Table 1 Baseline characteristics.

	Modified primary closure(n = 32)	Biological mesh closure(n = 44)	P value
Male/female	24/8	31/13	0.662
Age (yr)	52.8 ± 12.2	58.2 ± 12.5	0.137
BMI	26.8 ± 3.2	25.7 ± 2.7	0.097
Neoadjuvant therapy	8	7	0.326
Tumor location, Distance to anal verge (cm)	2.6 ± 0.8	2.8 ± 0.9	0.278
Postoperative TNM staging
II	23	29	0.581
III	9	15

BMI: Body mass index.

Table 2 Perioperative data.

	Modified primary closure(n = 32)	Biological mesh closure(n = 44)	P value
Reconstruction time (min)	14.6 ± 3.7	7.2 ± 1.9	< 0.001
Total operative time (min)	236 ± 20	248 ± 43	0.143
Intraoperative blood loss (mL)	165 ± 57	149 ± 52	0.242
Positive CRM	0	0	N/A
Bowel perforation	0	1	1.000
Recovery of bowel function (h)	22.8 ± 4.7	23.6 ± 5.0	0.475
Intestinal obstruction	0	1	1.000
Drainage removal (days after surgery)	6.6± 1.1	7.3 ± 2.0	0.094
Postoperative hospital stay (d)	8.1 ± 1.9	10.1 ± 2.8	0.001
Cost (USD)	9297 ± 1260	10719 ± 2360	0.003

CRM: Circumferential margin; USD: United States Dollar.

Table 3 Follow-up data

	Modified primary closure(n = 32)	Biological mesh closure(n = 44)	P value
Normal perineal wound healing1
10 d postoperatively	29	39	0.546
30 d postoperatively	27	41	0.270
60 d postoperatively	32	44	1.000
Perineal wound infection	5	5	0.734
Clear or haemoserous discharge	3	1	0.304
Pus/purulent discharge	1	2	1.000
Deep infection with or without tissue breakdown	1	2	1.000
Postoperative perineal hernia (12 mo)	0	0	N/A
Postoperative feeling of bulge (12 mo)	4	2	0.233
Postoperative chemotherapy	23	28	0.330
Postoperative radiotherapy	7	14	0.339
Postoperative local recurrence (12 mo)	0	1	1
Postoperative liver/lung metastasis (12 mo)	2	3	1
Postoperative death (12 mo)	0	0	N/A

¹Grade 0 or Grade I by the Southampton Wound Scoring System.