Robotic natural orifice specimen extraction surgery I-type F method vs conventional robotic resection for lower rectal cancer

Fang Tao; Dong-Ning Liu; Peng-Hui He; Xin Luo; Chi-Ying Xu; Tai-Yuan Li; Jin-Yuan Duan

doi:10.4240/wjgs.v15.i10.2142

Robotic natural orifice specimen extraction surgery I-type F method vs conventional robotic resection for lower rectal cancer

World J Gastrointest Surg. 2023 Oct 27;15(10):2142-2153. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v15.i10.2142.

Authors

Fang Tao¹, Dong-Ning Liu¹, Peng-Hui He², Xin Luo¹, Chi-Ying Xu¹, Tai-Yuan Li¹, Jin-Yuan Duan³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330052, Jiangxi Province, China.
² Department of General Surgery, The First Afﬁliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330052, Jiangxi Province, China.
³ Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330052, Jiangxi Province, China. duanjy2022@outlook.com.

Abstract

Background: Robotic resection using the natural orifice specimen extraction surgery I-type F method (R-NOSES I-F) is a novel minimally invasive surgical strategy for the treatment of lower rectal cancer. However, the current literature on this method is limited to case reports, and further investigation into its safety and feasibility is warranted.

Aim: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of R-NOSES I-F for the treatment of low rectal cancer.

Methods: From September 2018 to February 2022, 206 patients diagnosed with low rectal cancer at First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were included in this retrospective analysis. Of these patients, 22 underwent R-NOSES I-F surgery (R-NOSES I-F group) and 76 underwent conventional robotic-assisted low rectal cancer resection (RLRC group). Clinicopathological data of all patients were collected and analyzed. Postoperative outcomes and prognoses were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.

Results: Patients in the R-NOSES I-F group had a significantly lower visual analog score for pain on postoperative day 1 (1.7 ± 0.7 vs 2.2 ± 0.6, P = 0.003) and shorter postoperative anal venting time (2.7 ± 0.6 vs 3.5 ± 0.7, P < 0.001) than those in the RLRC group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of sex, age, body mass index, tumor size, TNM stage, operative time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative complications, or inflammatory response (P > 0.05). Postoperative anal and urinary functions, as assessed by Wexner, low anterior resection syndrome, and International Prostate Symptom Scale scores, were similar in both groups (P > 0.05). Long-term follow-up revealed no significant differences in the rates of local recurrence and distant metastasis between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: R-NOSES I-F is a safe and effective minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of lower rectal cancer. It improves pain relief, promotes gastrointestinal function recovery, and helps avoid incision-related complications.

Keywords: Lower rectal cancer; Natural orifice specimen extraction surgery; Robotic resection using the natural orifice specimen extraction surgery I-type F method; Robotic surgery.