The potential benefits of robotic surgery (RS) for rectal cancer (RC) remain uncertain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of RS compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery (LS) for stage I-III middle or lower RC.

This study retrospectively analyzed 350 consecutive patients with stage I-III middle or lower RC who underwent curative surgery from 2017 to 2021, employing propensity score matching (PSM) analysis.

Of 350 patients, 128 patients underwent RS. After PSM, we enrolled 256 patients. Median follow-up was 59.8 months. Before PSM, significant differences were observed between groups regarding primary tumor site (p = 0.02). After PSM, no significant differences between groups were observed in terms of operative time, blood loss, conversion rate, intra-operative and postoperative complications, or number of lymph nodes harvested. After PSM, 3- and 5-year cumulative LR rates were 3.2% and 3.2% in the RS group, and 2.8% and 3.2% in the LS group, respectively. The cumulative distant recurrence (DR) rates in the RS group were 13.4% at 3-year and 15.1% at 5-year, whereas in the LS group, they were 14.9% and 18.7%, respectively. No notable differences in cumulative LR or DR rates were evident between groups. Furthermore, no notable differences were observed between groups regarding overall, cancer-specific, or recurrence-free survival according to stage.

RS appears to be viable and safe treatment approach for patients with middle or lower RC, offering short- and long-term outcomes comparable to those of LS.

An intracorporeal anastomosis for colorectal resections has several advantages over a traditional extracorporeal anastomosis. A double stapled intracorporeal anastomosis compared to a single-stapled technique could reduce operative time and increase uptake of this beneficial technique. However, the patency and calibre of this anastomosis require laboratory assessment.

The aim of the study was to assess and compare the luminal diameter and patency of the double-stapled (intracorporeal type) anastomosis (DICA) with a single-stapled (intracorporeal type) anastomosis (SICA) and a double-stapled (extra-corporeal type) anastomosis (ECA).

Experimental laboratory-based study using fresh bovine intestine. Construction and assessment of two of each of the following anastomotic types: DICA, SICA, and ECA. The primary outcome measure was the luminal diameter of the anastomosis, comparing the ratios of the narrowest point of the anastomosis to the narrowest luminal diameter. Secondary outcome tests were leak and patency testing for each anastomosis.

All six anastomoses were found to be patent and without any anastomotic leakage. The ratio of narrowest anastomotic diameter to narrowest luminal diameter for all three anastomoses was comparable (extracorporeal anastomosis 1.16, single-stapled intracorporeal anastomosis 1.0 and double-stapled intracorporeal anastomosis 0.97).

This study confirms the in vitro patency and the adequacy of luminal diameter of the double stapled (intracorporeal type) anastomosis.

Distal, locally advanced rectal cancer might spread to lateral lymph nodes (LLNs), posing a risk of lateral local recurrence (LLR). This study evaluated quality-controlled implementation of lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) in the Netherlands.

This retrospective multicenter cohort study included consecutively treated rectal cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy, total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery, and nerve-sparing minimally invasive LLND by trained surgeons across 10 Dutch hospitals. Training involved cadaver sessions, monthly video meetings, and proctoring. Outcome measures included intra- and postoperative complications, urogenital dysfunction and 18-month LLR, local recurrence (LR), and disease-free survival (DFS).

The study comprised 41 patients (median follow-up period, 16 months; interquartile range, IQR, 8-21 months) with advanced tumors (27% cT4, 49% cN2, 7% cM1), and a mean LLN size of 11 mm on primary-staging MRI. Abdominoperineal resection was performed for 29 patients (70%). A beyond TME procedure was performed for 11 patients (28%). The median blood-loss was 250 ml (IQR, 100-400 ml), with obturator nerve injury reported in one patient. Malignant LLNs were found in 41% of the LLND specimens. Complications occurred for 22 patients (54%), 21% (9/41) of which were grade 3 or higher. Nine patients (22%, four of whom underwent beyond TME surgery) had a Foley or intermittent urinary catheter at the end of the follow-up period. Sexual dysfunction of three patients was reported. No ipsilateral LLRs occurred. The 18-month LR rate was 14%, and the DFS was 55%.

Minimally invasive nerve-sparing LLND by trained Dutch surgeons showed acceptable complication rates and good oncologic control of the lateral compartment to date.

Robotic surgery for rectal cancer has grown popular in recent years and has primarily used the da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, CA, USA; da Vinci). In 2020, Japan introduced the hinotori™ Surgical Robot System (Medicaroid, Kobe, Japan; hinotori). We report our initial surgical experiences with robotic surgery using hinotori for rectal cancer and its feasibility and safety comparing with da Vinci.

A single-institution retrospective study was conducted. Between November 2022 and November 2023, 38 and 96 patients with rectal cancer underwent robotic surgery using hinotori and da Vinci, respectively. The primary endpoint was the incidence of postoperative complications of the Clavien-Dindo classification (CD) grade ≥ II within postoperative 30 days. Secondary endpoints included surgical and console time, blood loss, conversion to other approaches, number of dissected lymph nodes, and postoperative hospital stay. A propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used to adjust for imbalance in baseline characteristics.

After PSM, a total of 76 patients (hinotori: 38, da Vinci: 38) were included. Compared to the da Vinci group, the hinotori group showed a similar postoperative complication rate of CD ≥ II (15.8% vs. 18.4%), comparable operative time (280.5 vs. 258 min), comparable console time (166 vs. 156 min), and less blood loss (9 vs. 17.5 mL, p = 0.025). There was no conversion in either group. The number of dissected nodes and postoperative stay were similar between the two groups.

Our findings support that robotic surgery for rectal cancer using hinotori is as safe as surgery performed using the da Vinci system.

Laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer remains challenging because of limited joint motion during dissection in the deep and narrow pelvis. Handheld multiarticulated instruments have been developed to address these limitations. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of a flexible articulated instrument, the ArtiSential® (Livsmed Co, Korea), at reducing the duration of laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery.

We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent laparoscopic low or ultralow anterior resection for primary mid to low rectal cancer (tumor distance from anal verge, ≤ 10 cm) performed by a single surgeon in 2012-2022. Patients were divided into groups based on the use of ArtiSential® or straight device, and their clinical characteristics, surgical procedures, pathological findings, postoperative complications, and survival outcomes were analyzed.

The study included 93 patients (articulating group, 32; straight group, 61). Low anterior resection was predominant in both groups, while operative time was significantly shorter in the articulating group (148.08 ± 49.72 vs. 188.13 ± 57.86; p = 0.003). Total mesorectal excision quality and resection margin status did not differ between groups. Postoperative complications, including anastomotic leakage, length of hospital stay, 3-year recurrence-free survival rate (90.6% vs. 88.5%, p = 0.760), and overall survival rate (100% vs. 85.2%, p = 0.092), did not differ between groups.

Use of the flexible articulated instrument (ArtiSential®) can reduce operative time without impairing surgical quality or oncologic outcomes. These results suggest that laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery can be performed safely and effectively using a flexible articulated instrument.

Not applicable.

This study aimed to estimate the impact of socioeconomic status on the probability of receiving open (OPEN) or minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for curative abdominal rectal cancer resection.

All patients diagnosed with rectal cancer clinical Stage I-III during the period 2010-2021 who underwent curative abdominal resection surgery, MIS or OPEN, were included. Patients were identified in the Colorectal Cancer Database, a register-linkage based on the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Register and linked to several national Swedish health-related and demographic registers. Socioeconomic factors, sex, patient and tumour characteristics, number of previous surgical procedures and category of hospital were collected. Exposures were level of education (categorized as 6-9, 10-12, >12 years), household income (quartiles 1-4) and country of birth (Sweden, Nordic countries outside Sweden, Europe outside the Nordic countries, outside Europe), and outcome was MIS or OPEN. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted for each exposure, adjusted for age, sex, cT and cN, level of tumour, and number of previous abdominal surgical procedures.

A total of 13 778 patients were included of whom 43.6% underwent MIS (n = 6007) and 56.4% OPEN (n = 7771). Highest level of education (OR for highest vs. lowest level of education 1.15; 95% CI 1.03-1.29) and highest household income quartile (OR for highest vs. lowest household income quartile 1.27; 95% CI 1.12-1.44) increased the likelihood of receiving MIS.

Despite the tax-financed healthcare system in Sweden, rectal cancer patients with the highest level of education and the highest household income had an increased probability of receiving MIS.

The role of laparoscopy in rectal cancer surgery has evolved considerably since the early 2000s. Initial randomized trials, such as COLOR II and COREAN, indicated that laparoscopic approaches offered similar pathological outcomes with better postoperative recovery than open surgery. In contrast, trials like ACOSOG Z6051 and ALaCaRT suggested noninferiority could not be established. Variability in trial outcomes, focusing on either disease-free survival or pathological measures, initially hindered consensus. Long-term analyses have shown no significant difference in disease-free survival between laparoscopic and open approaches. Meta-analyses have reinforced the benefits of laparoscopic surgery, with reduced mortality and similar oncologic effectiveness to open surgery. However, new techniques like transanal TME (TaTME) and robotic approaches have introduced alternatives, though each presents unique challenges, from recurrence rates in TaTME to costs in robotics. While laparoscopy remains the preferred method due to accessibility and outcomes, robotic surgery is expected to gain traction in high-volume centers.

The improved prognosis of rectal cancer through modern therapeutic approaches raises questions regarding quality of life (QoL) and functional outcomes. In this study, we compared post-transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) short- and long-term QoL and functional outcomes with those after abdominal TME (abTME).

Prospective data from patients who underwent elective taTME or abTME for stage I-III rectal cancer followed by anastomosis were retrospectively propensity score-adjusted. The primary endpoint, QoL, was assessed with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer core questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Functional outcomes were the secondary endpoints.

Among 494 patients during 2013-2022, 187 patients who underwent taTME and 62 patients who underwent abTME were included. QoL was worse after taTME at isolated time points: overall QoL (after 3 years: 72 vs. 82 points, p = 0.017) and QLQ-total (after 3 years: 81 vs. 87 points, p = 0.028; after 4 years: 82 vs. 89 points, p = 0.012). After propensity score matching, the between-group differences were still significant but smaller: overall QoL - 6 points, p = 0.021; QLQ-total - 5 points, p = 0.026.

The differences reported at isolated time points have questionable clinical relevance. Therefore, taTME and traditional abTME seem to have comparable long-term QoL and functional outcomes.

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06505863, https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?id=NCT06505863 .

This study aimed to identify patient-specific risk factors and intraoperative findings obtained from indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICG-FA) and intraoperative colonoscopy (IOC), using a structured endoscopic grading scale, to guide surgical decisions and minimize the risk of anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery. One hundred-eleven patients undergoing elective left-sided colorectal resections were evaluated intraoperatively using both ICG-FA and IOC, with anastomoses classified by a new endoscopic grading scale (Grades 1-5). Anastomoses classified as suboptimal (grade > 3) were taken down and reconstructed or repaired. The primary aim of the study was to determine the rate of anastomotic leakage (AL) using this integrated strategy and subsequently to identify patient-specific risk factors associated with AL. Among 111 patients, 102 patients (91.8%) at the IOC were classified as Grade 1, 4 patients (3.6%) as Grade 2, 4 patients (3.6%) as Grade 3, and 1 patient (0.9%) as Grade 4. The overall AL rate was 10.8% (12 patients). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, only anastomotic level ≤ 12 cm emerged as an independent risk factor of AL (OR 0.064, 95% CI 0.008-0.517, p = 0.010). Among patients who developed an AL, 3 (25%) required surgical intervention, the others were managed endoscopically or conservatively. An integrated approach involving ICG-FA and IOC may aid to construct a technically optimal colorectal anastomosis. Nevertheless, anastomotic leakage can still occur due to factors unrelated to intraoperative technique, particularly low anastomosis height. These factors should prompt routine consideration of protective loop ileostomy and pelvic drainage to mitigate AL clinical consequences.

Robot-assisted total mesorectal excision has been proposed as an alternative to laparoscopic TME for rectal cancer. However, its short-term outcomes and long-term oncological efficacy remain debated, especially in Western populations. This study evaluates the short-term clinical and long-term oncological outcomes of robot-assisted total mesorectal excision performed by experienced surgeons in high-volume European centres.

This multicentre, international, retrospective cohort study included 1390 patients from the EUREKA collaborative dataset who underwent robot-assisted total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer between January 2013 and January 2022. All surgeries were performed by expert surgeons beyond the learning curve. Data were analysed for patient demographics, perioperative outcomes, pathological findings, and three-year survival metrics. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate overall and disease-free survival.

Of 1390 patients, 60.6% underwent restorative low anterior resection. Conversion to open surgery occurred in 3.7%, and postoperative complications were reported in 28.7%. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 14.7% of patients who underwent restorative low anterior resection. The median operative time was 223 min. R0 resection was achieved in 94.7%, and circumferential resection margin positivity was 5.5%. Three-year overall survival was 90.1%, disease-free survival was 88.6%, and local recurrence was 2.9%.

Robot-assisted total mesorectal excision performed by experienced surgeons in high-volume European centres is safe, with low conversion rates, acceptable complication rates, and favourable oncological outcomes. These findings underscore the potential of robot-assisted total mesorectal excision as a standard approach for rectal cancer in specialised settings.

In this study, we analyze the oncological and functional outcomes after minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic and robotic) for mid and low rectal adenocarcinoma. This is a narrative review of articles published from January 2019 to December 2024 in which we analyzed the rate of short-term oncological outcomes (quality of surgical samples), long-term oncological outcomes (recurrence rate, overall survival, and disease-free survival), and functional disorders (urinary, sexual, and bowel function) after minimally invasive surgery. The rates of complete mesorectum are 67.7%-92.8%, the rate of free circumferential resection margin is 94%-98.2%, and the rate of free distal resection margin is 99.4%-100%. The local recurrence rate is 2.3%-7.3%, the overall survival rate is 80%-95.6%, and the disease-free survival rate is 70%-86.4%. The rate of urinary disorders is 25%-26.5%, sexual disorders are 35%-80%, and bowel disorders are 17%-44.6%. This review demonstrates that minimally invasive surgery yields favorable oncological and functional outcomes. The continuous evolution in robotic surgery will increasingly lead to interesting implications for rectal surgery, thanks to less surgical trauma and better intraoperative visualization of nerves.

Randomized studies have demonstrated that laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection is not inferior to open abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer.

Evaluate the immediate and extended results of laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection versus open abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer.

From January 2006 to December 2017, a total of 1852 patients with rectal cancer who had undergone abdominoperineal resection were enrolled in this investigation. The groups were matched in a 1:1 ratio using propensity score matching. The primary endpoints were overall survival and disease-free survival. The secondary endpoints were pathology and short-term postoperative outcomes.

Compared to the open abdominoperineal resection group, the laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection group exhibited a higher rate of positive circumferential resection margins (P < 0.001) and fewer postoperative complications (P < 0.001). 5-year disease-free survival (P = 0.449) and overall survival rates (P = 0.664) were comparable. Age (P < 0.001), comorbidity (P = 0.040), (y)pT (P = 0.024), (y)pN (P < 0.001), lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.003) and positive circumferential resection margins (P = 0.014) were independent prognostic risks for overall survival.

The pathological outcomes of laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection are inferior compared to open abdominoperineal resection. However, they demonstrate comparable long-term oncological outcomes, and laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection offers certain short-term advantages over the open approach.

Local resection (LR) in rectal cancer is indicated in stage T1N0M0 without unfavorable pathological factors, achieving oncologically satisfactory outcomes through transanal endoscopic surgery techniques. However, the initial step involves accurate staging and selection of these tumors through specific tests conducted in specialized colorectal units. For T2N0M0 tumors and T1 tumors with poor prognostic factors, the standard treatment is total mesorectal excision (TME), a procedure associated with high postoperative morbidity and mortality, functional impairments, and reduced quality of life. Therefore, new organ-preservation strategies are being explored as alternatives to TME. These include neoadjuvant therapy combined with LR, which has shown promising results, and neoadjuvant therapy followed by a "Watch and Wait" approach -where patients with complete clinical response are selected for strict surveillance- as an ideal future treatment, although there are still current challenges to be addressed.

Background/Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the perioperative and oncologic outcomes of patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) performed using laparoscopy or using the Medtronic Hugo™ Robotic-Assisted Surgery (RAS) system. Methods: This is a retrospective comparative single-center study of consecutive minimally invasive surgeries for CRC performed by two colorectal surgeons with extensive laparoscopic experience at the beginning of their robotic expertise. Patients were not selected for the surgical approach, but waiting lists and operating room availability determined whether the patients were in the robotic group or the laparoscopic group. The primary outcome was to compare 30-day postoperative complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification and the Complication Comprehensive Index (CCI). The secondary outcomes included operating times, conversion rates, intraoperative complications, length of hospital stays (LOS), readmission rates, and short-term oncologic outcomes, such as the R0 resection, the number of lymph nodes harvested, the total mesorectal excision (TME) quality, and the circumferential resection margin (CRM). Results: Of the 109 patients, 52 underwent robotic and 57 laparoscopic CRC surgery. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in the two groups. There was no significant difference between the robotic and the laparoscopic groups regarding postoperative complications, the Clavien-Dindo classification, and the CCI. They also had similar operating times, conversion rates, intraoperative complications, LOSs, readmission rates, and short-term oncologic outcomes (the lymph nodes harvested, the R0 resection, TME quality, and CRM status). Conclusions: This study reports the largest cohort of CRC surgery performed using the Medtronic Hugo™ RAS system and is the first comparative study with laparoscopy. The perioperative and oncologic outcomes were similar, demonstrating that the Medtronic Hugo™ RAS system is safe and feasible for CRC as compared to laparoscopic surgery, even at the beginning of the robotic experience.

Colon cancer is one of the most common malignancies of the digestive tract, often complicated by intestinal obstruction, which can significantly impact patient outcomes. While traditional laparotomy is the standard treatment, it is associated with large wounds, slower recovery, and higher complication rates. Laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive approach, may offer better outcomes for these patients.

To evaluate the clinical effects and prognosis of laparoscopic surgery in patients with colon cancer complicated by intestinal obstruction compared to traditional laparotomy.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 100 patients diagnosed with colon cancer and intestinal obstruction who underwent surgical treatment between January 2020 and December 2022. Patients were divided into two groups: The control group (CG), treated with traditional laparotomy, and the observation group (OG), treated with laparoscopic surgery. Clinical effects, surgical indicators, postoperative pain, inflammatory response, complication rates, quality of life, and prognosis were assessed and compared between the two groups.

The OG showed superior clinical outcomes compared to the CG (P < 0.05). Patients in the OG had shorter operation times, reduced intraoperative blood loss, faster recovery of intestinal function, earlier mobilization, and shorter hospital stays (P < 0.05). Postoperative pain (numerical rating scale scores) and inflammatory markers [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP)] were lower in the OG (P < 0.05). The incidence of complications was significantly reduced in the OG (6.00% vs 22.00%, P < 0.05). Quality of life scores, including physical function, psychological state, social communication, and self-care ability, were significantly higher in the OG (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups in abdominal drainage volume, 1-year tumor recurrence or metastasis rates, or 1- and 3-year survival rates (P > 0.05).

The OG showed superior clinical outcomes compared to the CG (P < 0.05). Patients in the OG had shorter operation times, reduced intraoperative blood loss, faster recovery of intestinal function, earlier mobilization, and shorter hospital stays (P < 0.05). Postoperative pain (NRS scores) and inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, CRP) were lower in the OG (P < 0.05). The incidence of complications was significantly reduced in the OG (6.00% vs 22.00%, P < 0.05). Quality of life scores, including physical function, psychological state, social communication, and self-care ability, were significantly higher in the OG (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups in abdominal drainage volume, 1-year tumor recurrence or metastasis rates, or 1- and 3-year survival rates (P > 0.05).

This study aims to examine why we encounter a pathological circumferential resection margin (pCRM)-positive specimen whose preoperative MRI indicates negative mesorectal fascia involvement in middle to low rectal cancer.

Forty-four consecutive patients included in this study had c(yc)T1-3 primary rectal adenocarcinoma without mesorectal fascia involvement and underwent laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) with curative intent in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of Kansai Medical University Hospital from January 2014 to April 2018. We adopted three checkpoints to investigate the misleading point causing positive pCRM (≤ 1 mm). (1) c(yc)CRM diagnosis by two radiologists with more than 20 and 15 years of experience in rectal cancer MRI diagnosis. (2) The specimen was assessed using the TME score presented by Nagtegaal. (3) We compared the standard sectioning according to UK guidelines (group A; n = 26) with the specimen MRI image navigation-based section (group B; n = 18) in terms of estimation of pCRM by c(yc)CRM.

We achieved a "complete" resection specimen in all cases. A simple correlation coefficient in group B revealed a significant correlation between c(yc)CRM and pCRM (r = 0.663, p = 0.00513); this correlation was not significant in group A (r = 0.261, p = 0.19824). However, tests for differences between linear regression coefficients in groups A and B showed no significant differences (p = 0.12596). There were five cases of pCRM ≤ 1 mm: three in group A and two in group B. An anterior lesion caused pCRM ≤ 1 mm in three cases; the tumor deposits or extramural vascular invasion caused the other cases.

The cause of misleading pCRM was the inaccurate preoperative MRI diagnosis of c(yc)CRM.

Background/Objectives: Robotic-assisted surgery is an attractive and promising option with unique advantages in rectal cancer surgery, but the optimal surgical approach is still debatable. Therefore, we aimed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of the robotic-assisted approach with the laparoscopic-assisted and open approaches. Methods: A single referral center in Israel retrospectively reviewed all patients that underwent an elective rectal resection for primary non-metastatic rectal cancer between 2010 and 2020. The cohort was separated into three groups according to the surgical approach: robotic, laparoscopic, or open. Results: The cohort included 526 patients with a median age of 64 years (range 31-89), of whom 103 patients were in the robotic group, 144 in the open group, and 279 patients in the laparoscopic group. The robotic group had significantly more lower rectal tumors (24.3% versus 12.7% and 6%, respectively, p < 0.001), more locally advanced tumors (65.6% versus 51.2% and 50.2%, respectively, p = 0.004), and higher rates of neoadjuvant radiotherapy (70.9% versus 54.2% and 39.5%, respectively, p < 0.001). Conversion to an open laparotomy was more common in the laparoscopy group (23.1% versus 6.8%, respectively, p = 0.001). The open approach had higher rates of intraoperative complications (23.2% compared with 10.7% and 13.5% in the robotic and laparoscopic groups, respectively, p = 0.011), longer hospital stays (10 days compared with 7 and 8 days, respectively, p < 0.001), and higher rates of postoperative complications (76% compared with 68.9% and 59.1%, respectively, p = 0.002). The groups were similar in the number of harvested lymph nodes (14) and the incidence of positive resection margins (2.1%). The 5-year overall survival in the robotic group was 92.3% compared with 90.5% and 88.3% in the laparoscopic and open groups, respectively (p = 0.12). The 5-year disease-free survival in the robotic group was 68% compared with 71% and 63%, respectively (p = 0.2). Conclusions: The robotic, laparoscopic, and open approaches had similar histopathological outcomes and long-term oncological outcomes. The open approach was associated with higher rates of perioperative morbidity. These findings suggest that the robotic approach is safe and effective in rectal cancer surgery.

Nosocomial infections are one of the severe postoperative complications that compromise perioperative safety in patients with colon cancer. However, there are limited studies on constructing visual risk prediction screening tools for nosocomial infections in these patients. The objective of this study is to construct a nomogram for predicting the risk of nosocomial infections among patients after colon cancer surgery.

Total 1146 patients after colon cancer surgery were selected and divided into a training set and a validation set. After identifying the most significant predictors through LASSO regression and logistic regression, the model was presented as static and dynamic nomogram. AUC was used to evaluate the discrimination of model. Calibration was evaluated by means of calibration curves. Decision and impact curves were applied to evaluate the clinical validity.

110 patients (9.60%) suffered nosocomial infections following colon cancer surgery. Peak temperature on the second postoperative day, Braden score on the first postoperative day, duration of retention of abdominal drains, ASA class, surgical type and postoperative complications were correlated with nosocomial infections. The nomogram composed of these predictors demonstrated good discrimination, calibration and clinical benefit in both the training and validation sets.

Risk predictors are important breakthroughs for healthcare workers in nosocomial infections prevention and control initiatives. The dynamic nomogram built in this study may be helpful for healthcare personnel to identify the risk of nosocomial infections among patients after colon cancer surgery.

Over the past two decades, minimally invasive approaches in rectal surgery have changed the landscape of surgical interventions, impacting both malignant and benign pathologies. The dynamic nature of rectal cancer treatment owes much to innovations in surgical techniques, reflected in the expanding literature on available treatment modalities. Local excision, facilitated by minimally invasive surgery, offers curative potential for patients with early T1 rectal cancers and favorable pathologic features. For more complex cases, laparoscopic and robotic surgery have demonstrated significant efficacy and provided precise, durable outcomes while reducing perioperative morbidity and enhancing postoperative recovery. Additionally, advancements in imaging, surgical instrumentation, and enhanced recovery protocols have further optimized patient care. The integration of multidisciplinary care has also emerged as a cornerstone of treatment, emphasizing collaboration among surgeons, oncologists, and radiologists to deliver personalized, evidence-based care. This narrative review aims to elucidate current minimally invasive surgical techniques and approaches for rectal pathologies, spanning benign and malignant conditions, while also exploring future directions in the field, including the potential role of artificial intelligence and next-generation robotic platforms.

Total mesorectal excision is the standard surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT), but it may lead to high complication rates and poor quality of life. This study evaluates whether transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), as a partial resection procedure, can enhance quality of life for clinical complete response (cCR) or near-cCR patients without compromising survival.

Between May 2017 to September 2021, 80 patients with T3-4N0M0 or TanyN+M0 mid-low rectal cancer achieving cCR or near-cCR post-nCRT were prospectively included at 6 Chinese centers. Patients underwent either TEM (Group A, n = 38) or radical surgery (Group B, n = 41). Clinicopathological, oncological, and functional outcomes were analyzed.

Postoperative histology revealed 22 ypT0 (57.9 %), 5 ypT1 (13.2 %), 10 ypT2 (26.3 %), and 1 ypT3 (2.6 %) cases in group A and 20 pCR (48.8 %), 1 T0N1 (2.4 %), 5 T1N0 (12.2 %), 12 T2-3N0 (29.3 %), 3 T2-3N1 (7.3 %) cases in group B. After a 60-month median follow-up, local recurrence occurred in 2 patients (5.26 %) in Group A and none in Group B. Distant metastases occurred in 8 patients (21.05 %) in group A and 7 (17.07 %) in group B. There was no significant difference between the two groups in 5-year disease-free survival (P = 0.658) or 5-year overall survival (P = 0.465). Group A showed significantly faster recovery (P < 0.001) and better sphincter function per Wexner (1 vs. 4, P = 0.001) and LARS (0 vs. 17, P < 0.001) scores than Group B.

TEM may be an effective approach for assessing residual tumors in LARC patients with cCR or near-cCR. This approach offers an option for those requiring sphincter preservation, with no significant compromise in long-term oncological outcomes observed in our study.

One of the critical steps involved is the distal transection of the rectum in rectal cancer surgeries. Multiple staple firings have been proven to increase the rate of anastomotic leakage. In this study, we intended to learn the effectiveness of the robotic SureForm SmartFire (SS) stapling system and its application in robotic sigmoid colon and rectal procedures performed at our institution.

Prospective study of patients who underwent surgeries for sigmoid/rectal cancer at our centre was considered. During the surgery, SS staplers were used, and its internal data log with regard to reload selection by the colour, reloads, clamp attempts and staple fires was considered along with intra- and post-operative outcomes.

246 firings were done in 147 cases with mean body mass index of 26.3 ± 4.3 kg/m2; mean blood loss was 53.6 ± 21.8 ml. None of our patients had stapler-related complications, and the mean length of stay was 7.18 ± 1.5 days. Average reloads used in robotic-low anterior resection (LAR) were 1.73 with the fire attempts beyond lap angle occurring only in robotic-assisted LAR (RA-LAR)/abdominoperineal resection in 87 fires (41%) with 120 instances of controlled and sequential pauses occurred in 246 fires once fire pedal was activated.

Apart from oncological nodal and margin clearance in the carcinoma rectum surgery, obtaining adequate distal margin, sphincter preserving approach and distal transection of the rectum forms one of the key steps in the low anterior resection. Robotic SS staplers have 120° angulation in both axes with EndoWrist technology that has better manoeuvrability within the confines of the pelvis.

As part of an organ sparing strategy, a surgical local excision may be performed in patients with early-stage rectal cancer or following neoadjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy. In selected cases, a completion total mesorectal excision may be recommended which can be more complex because of the preceding local excision. A transanal approach to perform completion total mesorectal excision may offer an advantage through the better visualization of the surgical field in the distal rectum and less forceful retraction for exposure. However, the oncologic safety and technical feasibility of this approach have yet to be demonstrated in these patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the oncological and technical safety of completion transanal total mesorectal excision following a local excision in patients with rectal cancer.

Patients from the prospective International Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision Registry who underwent a surgical local excision prior to completion transanal total mesorectal excision were retrospectively analyzed.

In total, 189 patients were included of which 22% received neoadjuvant radiotherapy. In 94% of the patients, a low anterior resection was performed. A primary anastomosis was constructed in 91% (n = 171/189) of the patients, with the majority also receiving a defunctioning stoma (84%, n = 144/171), of which 69% (n = 100/144) were reversed. Within 30 days, 7% developed an anastomotic leakage. The two-year local recurrence rate was 5% (n = 5/104) with an estimated rate of 3% (95% CI 0-7%). Two-year disease-free survival was 85% (n = 88/104) and overall survival was 95% (n = 99/104).

Transanal completion total mesorectal excision following local excision for rectal cancer is oncologically safe, with low complication rates and high restorative rates.

Transanal excision of rectal cancer can be considered the definitive surgical treatment if the depth spread is T1 or lower, and the lesion is completely included within the resection margin. This study aims to analyze the immune microenvironment in healthy rectal mucosa as a possible predictor of tumor infiltration depth, lateral tumor spread, and recurrence of rectal cancer after transanal local excision.

This study is a subanalysis of data from the IMMUNOREACT 1 and 2 trials (NCT04915326 and NCT04917263, respectively) including all the patients who underwent transanal excision of rectal cancer. This multicentric study collected healthy mucosa surrounding the neoplasms of patients with rectal cancer. A panel of immune markers was investigated at immunohistochemistry: CD3, CD4, CD8, CD8β, Tbet, FoxP3, PD-L1, MSH6, and PMS2 and CD80. Flow cytometry determined the proportion of epithelial cells expressing CD80, CD86, CD40, HLA ABC or HLA DR and the proportion of activated CD8+ T cells, CD4+ Th1 cells, and Treg.

Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for predicting deep tumor spread showed an area under the curve of 0.70 (95% confidence interval: 0.60-0.80) for CD25+FoxP3+ cell rate and 0.74 (95% confidence interval: 0.53-0.92) for CK+CD86+ cell rate. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for predicting lateral tumor spread showed an area under the curve of 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.61-0.99) for CD8+CD38+ MFI, 0.96 (95% confidence interval: 0.85-0.99) for CD8β infiltration, and 0.97 (95% confidence interval: 0.87-0.99) for CK+HLAabc+ cell rate. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for predicting recurrence showed an area under the curve of 0.93 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-0.99) for CD8+CD38+ MFI and 0.94 (95% confidence interval: 0.78-0.99) for CD8+CD28+ MFI. Low CD8+CD38+ MFI and low CD8+CD28+ MFI were associated with shorter disease-free survival (P = .025 and P = .021, respectively).

Our study showed that the association between the high proportion of epithelial cells acting as presenting cells and deep or lateral tumor spread may be explained by the presence of a greater tumor load at the site. Moreover, it showed that weak activation of CD8+ T cells within the rectal mucosa is associated with lateral tumor spread and eventually a higher recurrence rate. The mucosal level of CD8β infiltration detected at immunohistochemistry might be tested as a marker of lateral tumor spread and potentially translated into clinical practice.

Currently, there is no consensus regarding whether super-elderly (aged > 80 years) patients are suitable candidates for laparoscopic surgery. This study aimed to analyse the short-term outcomes and oncological prognosis of laparoscopic gastrectomy in super-elderly patients with gastric cancer (GC).

Following PRISMA and AMSTAR-2 guidelines, we searched the Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Pubmed databases from inception until May 2024 and performed a meta-analysis. All published studies exploring the surgical outcomes and oncological prognosis of laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy in super-elderly patients with GC were reviewed. Statistical analyses were performed using RevMan 5.3.

A total of 1,085 studies were retrieved, eight of which were included in the meta-analysis, comprising 807 patients > 80 years of age with GC. The meta-analysis showed that compared with open gastrectomy, patients with GC > 80 years old who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy had a longer operative time (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 30.48, p < 0.001), less intraoperative blood loss (WMD = -166.96, P < 0.001), shorter postoperative exhaust time (WMD =-0.83, p < 0.001), shorter length of stay (WMD = -0.78, p < 0.001), fewer overall complications (Odds ratio [OR] = 0.54, p = 0.003), higher 5-year overall survival rate (OR = 1.66, p = 0.03) and disease-specific survival rate (OR = 3.23, p < 0.001). Furthermore, laparoscopic gastrectomy did not significantly affect the number of lymph node dissections, the rate of D2 radical gastrectomy, major postoperative complications, or postoperative pneumonia.

Compared to open gastrectomy, patients with GC aged > 80 years who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy may have better short-term outcomes. Age should not be a contraindication for minimally invasive surgery.

Rectal cancer surgery remains a significant technical challenge. The development and implementation of a new technology offer hope for more accurate and precise surgery. To evaluate whether single-port robotic (SPr) technology helps achieve this goal, an international SPr registry was established. This study reported short-term clinical and oncologic outcomes from an international SPr registry for rectal cancer.

A review of a prospective international registry of SPr technology approved for colorectal surgery with an investigational design exemption was conducted. Patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who had resection for curative intent using the SPr platform between November 2018 and September 2022 were included. Frequency statistics described patient and tumor characteristics and intraoperative, oncologic, and clinical outcome variables. The main outcome measure was the quality of the total mesorectal excision (TME) specimen. The secondary outcome measures were intraoperative conversion and 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality.

A total of 113 SPr procedures for rectal cancer were performed at 2 centers by 4 colorectal surgeons. Of note, 9 local excisions were excluded, leaving 104 cases analyzed. The cohort consisted of 53 men (50.96%), had a mean age of 60.00 years (SD, 11.29), and had a body mass index of 25.80 kg/m2 (SD, 6.18). The most common T stage was 3 (55 [52.8%]), followed by 2 (19 [18.26%]). More than 60% of patients had preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiation. The mean tumor distance from the anorectal ring was 2.90 cm (SD, 2.62), and the mean tumor size was 4.52 cm (SD, 1.82). The procedures performed included transanal abdominal transanal/transanal TME (52 [46%]), low anterior resection (49 [43.3%]), and abdominoperineal resection (3 [2.7%]). The mean operating time was 168.0 min (SD, 56.9). There were no intraoperative complications and 2 (1.9%) conversions to laparoscopy. There was a median of 2 incisions, with a mean size of 2.30 cm (SD, 1.31). The TME specimens were complete in 101 cases (97.1%) and near complete in 3 cases (2.9%). The R1 rate was 3.8%, with 3 positive distal margins and 1 positive circumferential margin. Postoperatively, there were 15 total complications, of which 4 were major complications and 11 were minor complications. There were 2 readmissions (ileus and small bowel obstruction). There were no mortalities.

This early international experience with the SPr procedure showed that it is a safe and effective technique for distal rectal cancers, with excellent specimen quality. The complication and conversion rates observed with other techniques and platforms used in rectal cancer surgery were not demonstrated. An international registry was used to better understand the opportunities and limitations of SPr technology in rectal cancer surgery as the technology is adopted and applied more widely. Although structured training and controlled trials will be required to develop best practices and define the use of the SPr technology, initial international registry data are encouraging.

MRI plays a critical role in the local staging, restaging, surveillance, and risk stratification of patients, ensuring they receive the most tailored therapy. As such, radiologists must be familiar not only with the key MRI findings that influence management decisions but also with the appropriate MRI protocols and structured reporting. Given the complexity of selecting the optimal therapy for each patient-which often requires multidisciplinary discussions-radiologists should be well-versed in relevant treatment strategies and surgical terms, understanding their significance in guiding patient care. In this manuscript, we review the most common treatment options for managing patients with rectal adenocarcinoma, emphasizing key MRI principles and protocol characteristics for accurate staging. We also highlight important anatomical landmarks and essential factors to be described during baseline assessment. Additionally, we discuss crucial information for restaging and surveillance.

Few studies have assessed the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in patients with metachronous colorectal cancer (MCRC). This study aims to evaluate the safety and outcomes of laparoscopic surgery in MCRC patients who have previously undergone colorectal cancer surgery.

We compared the short-term outcomes of open versus laparoscopic surgery in patients with MCRC between October 2007 and October 2022.

Among the 59 MCRC patients, 25 underwent laparoscopic surgery, whereas 34 received open surgery. The proportion of patients who underwent prior open surgeries was significantly greater in the open group than in the laparoscopic group (91.2% vs. 24.0%, p < 0.001). Three patients (12.0%) in the laparoscopic group required conversion to laparotomy due to severe intra-abdominal adhesions, all of whom had a history of open surgery for colorectal cancer. Compared to the open surgery group, the laparoscopic group presented significantly less estimated blood loss (56.80 ± 115.47 vs. 136.47 ± 158.61 ml, p = 0.038), a shorter time to the first flatus (2.20 ± 0.76 vs. 3.50 ± 0.62 days, p < 0.001), a shorter time to the first stool (2.92 ± 0.64 vs. 4.32 ± 0.64 days, p < 0.001), and a shorter postoperative hospitalization duration (7.24 ± 2.42 vs. 10.79 ± 3.50 days, p < 0.001).

Laparoscopic surgery for MCRC patients is a safe and less invasive alternative to open surgery, resulting in reduced estimated blood loss, faster recovery of bowel function, and shorter postoperative hospitalization.

Screening has increased the incidence of early-stage rectal cancer and interest in rectal-preserving treatment strategies. Although guidelines recommend completion total mesorectal excision (cTME) in the presence of histological risk factor(s) after local excision, surgery-related morbidity often deters patients from cTME. Additionally, locoregional recurrences (LR) identified during surveillance may still be salvageable. This study evaluates oncological and surgical outcomes in pT1-2 rectal cancer patients who received local excision with or without additional therapy.

A retrospective cross-sectional national cohort study was conducted in 67 Dutch hospitals, including all patients who underwent curative surgical resection for rectal cancer in 2016. Patients with pT1-2 tumours who received surveillance, cTME or adjuvant chemoradiotherapy after local excision were selected. The primary outcome was LR. Secondary endpoints included ostomy rate, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS).

Of 3057 patients, 219 underwent local excision, followed by surveillance in 74 % (n = 162), cTME in 23 % (n = 51), and adjuvant (chemo)radiation in 3 % (n = 6). Median follow-up was 46 months (IQR 29-54). Four-year LR rates were 14 % and 4 % after surveillance and cTME, respectively (p = 0.033). In the surveillance group, 16 of 20 patients (80 %) who developed LR were treated with curative intent. cTME resulted in a substantially higher ostomy rate (43 % vs 4 %, p = 0.001). No significant differences were found in 4-year DFS and OS.

Despite a LR rate of 14 % after local excision alone, the majority of these recurrences could be treated with curative intent. Additionally, the risk of stoma was 10-fold lower after surveillance compared to cTME.

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05539417, https://www.

gov/ct2/show/NCT05539417.

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of transitioning from open to laparoscopic surgery for colorectal carcinoma in a primary care hospital setting. Despite the recognized benefits of laparoscopic surgery in postoperative recovery and its demonstrated oncological equivalence, only a minority of patients (30-40%) in Germany undergo laparoscopic procedures, primarily due to concerns which, in addition to the perioperative quality data and economic aspects, focus on patient safety.

Over a three-year period (2012-2014), the transformation process was observed in a colorectal cancer center. Data from 237 patients (115 laparoscopic; 122 open) were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. Short-term outcomes, including demographic data, perioperative complications, and quality metrics, as well as long-term survival data, were included.

Laparoscopic surgery demonstrated several advantages. Postoperative intensive care needs decreased significantly (average length of stay: laparoscopic 1.2 days vs. open 2.5 days; p = 0.032). Hospital stays were also shorter following laparoscopic surgery (median laparoscopic 10 days vs. median open 14 days; p = 0.011). Quality of specimens, particularly lymph node retrieval, remained comparable (median laparoscopic = 18 vs. median open = 19). Survival data showed non- inferiority of the laparoscopic approach. Despite higher initial costs, laparoscopic surgery yielded cost savings of approximately 3150 € per case due to reduced intensive care and shorter hospital stays.

In conclusion, this study demonstrates the feasibility of transitioning from open to laparoscopic oncologic colorectal surgery in a primary care hospital setting. The findings suggest that such a transition can be accomplished without compromising the quality of specimens, while also realizing cost savings and maintaining patient safety.

While total mesorectal excision is the gold standard for rectal cancer, the optimal surgical approach to achieve adequate oncological outcomes remains controversial. This network meta-analysis aims to compare the histopathological outcomes of robotic (R-RR), transanal (Ta-RR), laparoscopic (L-RR), and open (O-RR) resections for rectal cancer.

MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were screened from inception to June 2024. Of the 4186 articles screened, 27 RCTs were selected. Pairwise comparisons and Bayesian network meta-analyses applying random effects models were performed.

The 27 RCTs included a total of 8696 patients. Bayesian pairwise meta-analysis revealed significantly lower odds of non-complete mesorectal excision with Ta-RR (Odds Ratio, OR, 0.60; 95%CI, 0.33, 0.92; P = .02; I2:11.7 %) and R-RR (OR, 0.68; 95%CI, 0.46, 0.94; P = .02; I2:41.7 %) compared with laparoscopy. Moreover, lower odds of positive CRMs were observed in the Ta-RR group than in the L-RR group (OR, 0.36; 95%CI, 0.13, 0.91; P = .02; I2:43.9 %). The R-RR was associated with more lymph nodes harvested compared with L-RR (Mean Difference, MD, 1.24; 95%CI, 0.10, 2.52; P = .03; I2:77.3 %). Conversely, Ta-RR was associated with a significantly lower number of lymph nodes harvested compared with all other approaches. SUCRA plots revealed that Ta-RR had the highest probability of being the best approach to achieve a complete mesorectal excision and negative CRM, followed by R-RR, which ranked the best in lymph nodes retrieved.

When comparing the effectiveness of the available surgical approaches for rectal cancer resection, Ta-RR and R-RR are associated with better histopathological outcomes than L-RR.

The relative benefits of robotic surgery and laparoscopic surgery are controversial in rectal cancer. This study compared the short- and long-term outcomes of robotic surgery with those of laparoscopic surgery in patients with rectal cancer using propensity score analysis.

This study analyzed consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery for stage I-III rectal cancer between April 2014 and October 2020. After propensity score matching (PSM), short-term outcomes, relapse-free survival, and overall survival were compared between the robotic surgery (RS) group and the laparoscopic surgery (LS) group.

During the study period, 251 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery and 193 underwent robotic surgery. PSM resulted in 160 matched pairs (After PSM, the percentages of patients with stage I, II, and III disease were respectively 56%, 19%, and 24% in the LS group and 49%, 23%, and 28% in the RS group (P = 0.462). Median operation time was 239 min in the LS group and 284 min in the RS group (P = 0.001). The C-reactive protein level on postoperative day 3 was significantly lower in the RS group (4.63 mg/mL vs. 5.86 mg/mL, P = 0.013). Postoperative complications, including ileus and Clavien-Dindo grade II or higher complications, were 6% vs. 1% (P = 0.006) and 21% vs. 12% (P = 0.024) in the LS and RS groups, respectively. The 5-year relapse-free survival rate was 88.5% in the LS group and 90.5% in the RS group (P = 0.525); the respective 5-year overall survival rates were 97.3 and 93.8% (P = 0.283). The 5-year cumulative local and distant recurrence rates were 3.3% vs. 3.3% (P = 0.665) and 9.7% vs. 7.7% (P = 0.464) in the LS and RS groups, respectively CONCLUSION: Robotic surgery can be a feasible treatment modality for rectal cancer, with lower frequencies of postoperative ileus and Clavien-Dindo grade II or higher complications than laparoscopic surgery and no difference in long-term outcomes.

To investigate the efficacy of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer in obese and older patients, who are often characterized by a higher prevalence of comorbidities and physical decline.

This large-scale multicenter retrospective cohort study included 524 patients with a body mass index of 25 or higher who underwent either open or laparoscopic surgery for stage II or III rectal cancer between 2009 and 2013. We assessed the short-term outcomes and relapse-free survival by comparing these surgical modalities. The patients were stratified into 404 non-elderly (< 70 years) and 120 elderly (≥ 70 years) patients.

In both patient groups, laparoscopic surgery was associated with a significantly reduced blood loss (non-elderly: 41 vs. 545 ml; elderly: 50 vs. 445 ml) and shorter hospital stays (non-elderly: 10 vs. 19 days; elderly: 15 vs. 20 days) than open surgery. The overall complications and relapse-free survival showed no significant differences between the two surgical techniques in either age group. Additionally, the impact of the laparoscopic procedure on the relapse-free survival remained consistent between the age groups.

Laparoscopic surgery offers short-term benefits for patients with obesity and rectal cancer compared to open surgery, regardless of age, without influencing the long-term prognosis.

Laparoscopic surgery is increasingly used for rectal cancer, but the long-term oncological outcomes for low rectal cancer have not been fully established. We aimed to evaluate the 3-year survival outcomes of laparoscopic surgery versus open surgery in the treatment of low rectal cancer.

This multicentre, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial was conducted at 22 tertiary hospitals in China. Individuals aged 18-75 years with histologically confirmed cT1-2N0, cT3-4aN0, or cT1-4aN1-2 rectal adenocarcinoma within 5 cm from the dentate line were eligible for inclusion. Participants were randomly assigned (2:1) to undergo laparoscopic surgery or open surgery. Central randomisation was conducted using a web response system, and was stratified by clinical stage, age, sex, BMI, and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification. Investigators, patients and statisticians were not masked to group allocation. The primary outcome was 3-year disease-free survival, defined as the time from the date of surgery to the date of locoregional recurrence, distant metastasis, or death from any cause, whichever occurred first. Non-inferiority was defined as a lower limit of one-sided 97·5% CI for group difference (laparoscopic surgery group minus open surgery group) of greater than -10%. The primary analyses were performed in the modified intention-to-treat population, which excluded patients with distant metastasis discovered during surgery and those who did not undergo surgery or underwent local resection only. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01899547, and has been completed.

Between Nov 12, 2013, and June 6, 2018, 1070 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to treatment. 1039 patients (685 in the laparoscopic surgery group and 354 in the open surgery group; median age 57 years, IQR 50 to 64; 620 [60%] male and 419 [40%] women) were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. 3-year disease-free survival was 81·4% (95% CI 78·2 to 84·1) in the laparoscopic surgery group and 79·8% (75·2 to 83·6) in the open surgery group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·92, 95% CI 0·69 to 1·23; p=0·56). The difference between groups was 1·60% (one-sided 97·5% CI -3·34 to ∞, p<0·0001 for non-inferiority). 3-year overall survival was 91·7% (95% CI 89·3 to 93·5) in the laparoscopic surgery group and 93·7% (90·6 to 95·8) in the open surgery group (HR 1·34, 95% CI 0·82 to 2·19; p=0·24). 3-year locoregional recurrence was 3·7% (95% CI 2·5 to 5·3) and 2·3% (1·1 to 4·3), respectively (HR 1·64, 95% CI 0·74 to 3·63; p=0·22). 5-year overall survival was 84·6% (95% CI 81·5 to 87·1) and 86·6% (82·5 to 89·8) in the open group (HR 1·16, 95% CI 0·82 to 1·64; p=0·41).

Laparoscopic surgery performed by experienced surgeons is non-inferior to open surgery for 3-year disease-free survival among patients with low rectal cancer. These results support the use of laparoscopic surgery for low rectal cancer.

The Key Clinical Specialty Discipline Construction Program of the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China; Minimally Invasive Medical Center Construction Program, Fujian Province, China; and Joint Funds for the Innovation of Science and Technology, Fujian Province, China.