Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision with natural orifice specimen extraction.

aimTo introduce transvaginal or transanal specimen extraction in laparoscopic total mesorectal excision surgery to avoid an abdominal incision.

methodsBetween January 2009 and December 2011, 21 patients with rectal cancer underwent laparoscopic radical resection and the specimen was retrieved by two different ways: transvaginal or transanal rectal removal. Transvaginal specimen extraction approach was strictly limited to elderly post-menopausal women who need hysterectomy. Patients aged between 30 and 80 years, with a body mass index of less than 30 kg/m², underwent elective surgery. The surgical technique and the outcomes related to the specimen extraction, such as duration of surgery, length of hospital stay, and the complications were retrospectively reviewed.

resultsLaparoscopic resection using a natural orifice removal approach was successful in all of the 21 patients. Median operating time was 185 min (range, 122-260 min) and the estimated blood loss was 48 mL. The mean length of hospital stay was 7.5 d (range, 2-11 d). One patient developed postoperative ileus and had an extended hospital stay. The patient complained of minimal pain. There were no postoperative complications or surgery-associated death. The mean size of the lesion was 2.8 cm (range, 1.8-6.0 cm), and the mean number of lymph nodes harvested was 18.7 (range, 8-27). At a mean follow-up of 20.6 mo (range, 10-37 mo), there were no functional disorders associated with the transvaginal and transanal specimen extraction.

conclusionTransvaginal or transanal extraction in L-TME is a safe and effective procedure. Natural orifice specimen extraction can avoid the abdominal wall incision and its potential complications.