Low anterior resection with transanal transection and single-stapled anastomosis: technical aspects and initial results
Alfredo Vivas López, O. García Villar, Francisco Javier García Borda, Rafael Mauricio Restrepo Núñez, Eduardo Rubio González, C. López Nevado, Pablo Peláez, María Labalde Martínez, David Alias, Kleber Falcon, Sofía Lorenzo, José Perea, Eduardo Ferrero Herrero
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Rectal cancer (RC) is a surgical challenge due to its technical complexity. The double-stapled (DS) technique, a standard for colorectal anastomosis, has been associated with notable drawbacks, including a high incidence of anastomotic leak (AL). Low anterior resection with transanal transection and single-stapled (TTSS) anastomosis has emerged to mitigate those drawbacks. METHODS: Observational study in which it described the technical aspects and results of the initial group of patients with medium-low RC undergoing elective laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) and TTSS. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were included in the series. Favourable postoperative outcomes with a median length of stay of 5 days and an AL incidence of 9.1%. Importantly, all patients achieved complete mesorectal excision with tumour-free margins, and no mortalities were reported. CONCLUSION: TTSS emerges as a promising alternative for patients with middle and lower rectal tumours, offering potential benefits in terms of morbidity reduction and oncological integrity compared with other techniques.