Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26895916›Full record

ArticleSurgical endoscopy2016

Electrophysiology-based quality assurance of nerve-sparing in laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery: Is it worth the effort?

D W Kauff, N Wachter, R Bettzieche, H Lang, W Kneist

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Surgical endoscopy, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Surgeons' assessment of internal anal sphincter nerve supply during TaTME - inbetween expectations and reality.Minimally invasive therapy & allied technologies : MITAT : official journal of the Society for Minimally Invasive Therapy · 2016
    Trial
  3. Low anterior resection syndrome: can it be prevented?International journal of colorectal disease · 2021
    Review
  4. Optimising functional outcomes in rectal cancer surgery.Langenbeck's archives of surgery · 2021
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Sexual dysfunction following rectal cancer surgery.International journal of colorectal disease · 2017
    Review
  7. Article
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

D W KauffDepartment of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Medicine of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
N WachterDepartment of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Medicine of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
R BettziecheDepartment of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Medicine of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
H LangDepartment of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Medicine of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
W KneistDepartment of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Medicine of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany. werner.kneist@unimedizin-mainz.de.
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAfter low anterior resection for rectal cancer, visual assessment of pelvic autonomic nerve preservation can be difficult due to the complexity of neuroanatomy, as well as surgery- and patient-related factors. The present study aimed to evaluate nerve-sparing quality assurance using the laparoscopic neuromapping (LNM) technique.

methodsWe prospectively investigated a series of 30 patients undergoing laparoscopic low anterior resection. Nerve-sparing was evaluated both visually and electrophysiologically. LNM was performed using stimulation of pelvic autonomic nerves under simultaneous cystomanometry and processed electromyography of the internal anal sphincter. Urogenital and anorectal functions were evaluated using validated and standardized questionnaires preoperatively, at short-term follow-up, and at mid-term follow-up at a median of 9 months (range 6-12 months) after surgery.

resultsOne patient reported new onset of urinary dysfunction, and another patient reported new onset of anorectal dysfunction. Of the 20 sexually active patients, five reported sexual dysfunction. Visual assessment by laparoscopy confirmed complete nerve preservation in 28 of 30 cases. For prediction of urinary and anorectal function, LNM sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and overall accuracy were each 100 %. LNM with combined assessment for prediction of sexual function yielded a sensitivity of 80 %, specificity of 93 %, positive predictive value of 80 %, negative predictive value of 93 %, and overall accuracy of 90 %.

conclusionsLNM is an appropriate method for reliable quality assurance of laparoscopic nerve-sparing.

Indexed as

ElectromyographyAgedAnal CanalAutonomic PathwaysDigestive System Surgical ProceduresFemaleHumansLaparoscopyMaleManometryMiddle AgedMonitoring, IntraoperativeOrgan Sparing TreatmentsPelvisPostoperative ComplicationsProspective StudiesAutonomic nervesElectric stimulationIntraoperative monitoringLaparoscopyQuality assuranceRectal cancer

Identifiers

PMID26895916
OpenAlexW2280026209

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.