Anus-preserving rectectomy via telescopic colorectal mucosal anastomosis for low rectal cancer: Experience from a Chinese cohort

Figure 1 Schematic layout of the anus-preserving procedure via trans-abdominal radical anterior resection and trans-anal telescopic colorectal mucosal anastomosis.

Figure 2 Surgical procedures. A: The “5-stitches-suspension” method; B: Dissection was performed by mobilizing the rectum through the mucosal plane to 2-4 cm above the dentate line; C: Telescopic colorectal mucosal anastomosis (TCMA) of the sero-muscular layer and muscular sheath was performed at 2.0 cm above the dentate line; D: Four interrupted absorbable sutures in the distal end of the colon and the residual of the rectal mucosa were also placed at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions, followed by 4-8 additional sutures; E: After TCMA, the 5-suspension-stitches were removed, and the anastomotic stoma was repositioned.

Figure 3 Kaplan-Meier method were used to calculate the 5-year survival rate and the 5-year disease-free survival rate.