Abstract 632
Background
Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a severe complication of robotic low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer, and effective prevention is urgently needed. In the robotic era, to evaluate the role of innovative techniques that prevented AL in rectal cancer patients undergoing robotic LAR.
Methods
From September 2012 to September 2017, a total of 581 patients underwent robotic LAR, with 131 patients participated as control subjects (non-PST group) and 450 patients were subjected to PST techniques. After propensity scores adjusted for potential bias, the AL rate, short-term and long-term outcomes were compared between the two groups.
Results
The overall rate of AL was 7.1% out of 581 patients, with Grade B at 6.2% and Grade C at 0.9%, using the ISREC grading system. After matching propensity scores, the PST group presented improvement in both overall AL (5.0% vs 10.7%, P = 0.034) and major AL (0.4% vs 3.1%, P = 0.044) compared with the non-PST group, respectively. Furthermore, the PST group had lower surgical complications (13.6% vs 21.6%, P = 0.014) and reoperation rates (0.8% vs 4.6%, P = 0.019) compared with the non-PST group, respectively. Long-term oncological outcomes were not significant in the two groups. By multivariate regression models, we demonstrated that distance of anastomosis from anal verge <5cm, distance of distal resection margin from tumor <2cm, estimated blood loss ≥100mL and non-PST technique were risk factors of AL in robotic LAR.
Conclusions
Avoiding routine diverting stoma, the innovative PST techniques may shed light on an effective method for preventing occurrence of AL in robotic LAR.
Editorial acknowledgement
Conception and design: Wenju Chang, Li Ren, Ye Wei, and Jianmin Xu. Financial support: Jianmin Xu. Administrative support: Jingwen Chen, Meiling Ji and Tianyu Liu. Provision of study materials or patients: Wenju Chang, Li Ren, Ye Wei, Mi Jian, Wenbai Huang, and Jianmin Xu. Collection and assembly of data: Wenju Chang, Shangjin Peng, Tianyu Liu, Wenbai Huang, and Jianmin Xu. Data analysis and interpretation: Wenju Chang, Ye Wei, Jingwen Chen and Jianmin Xu. Manuscript writing: All authors. Final approval of manuscript: All authors.
Clinical trial identification
Legal entity responsible for the study
Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University.
Funding
Supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China (81602035, 81472228); The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning: Shanghai Outstanding Youth Specialist Training Program (Q2017-059); Clinical Science and Technology Innovation Project of Shanghai (SHDC12016104).
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.