Comparative analysis of the short and medium-term efficacy of the Da Vinci robot versus laparoscopic total mesangectomy for rectal cancer

Table 3 Comparison of postoperative pathological examination results between the two groups of rectal cancer patients

Pathological indicators	L-TME group (n = 112)	R-TME group (n = 128)	Statistical	P value
Number of lymph nodes dissected	12 (7)	16 (8)	Z = -3.295	0.001
Tumor diameter (cm)	4.0 (1.5)	3.5 (2.4)	Z = -0.006	0.996
Pathological grading			χ2 = 0.607	0.738
High differentiation	5	8
Medium differentiation	95	104
Low differentiation	12	16
Positive circumcision margin (case)	8	2	χ2 = 4.658	0.031
AJCC staging			χ2 = 0.002	0.999
Phase I	28	32
Phase II	44	50
Phase III	40	46
Mesorectal resection (case)			χ2 = 5.060	0.08
completely	104	126
Near-complete	6	2
Imperfection	2	0
Nerve invasion	23	18	χ2 = 1.767	0.184
Vascular invasion	25	20	χ2 = 1.758	0.185

L-TME: Laparoscopic total mesorectal resection; R-TME: Robotic total mesorectal resection; AJCC: American Joint Committee on Cancer.