Clinical application of eight-zone laparoscopic dissection strategy for rectal cancer: Experience and discussion

Table 1 Classification of mesangial integrity in Dutch Colorectal Cancer Group standards

Integrity level	Description	Characteristics
Complete	Intact mesorectal tissue with a smooth surface	Defect depth ≤ 5 mm, distal margin without a cone shape, circumferential margin smooth and regular
More Complete	Mesorectal tissue of moderate size with an irregular surface	Defect depth > 5 mm, not reaching the muscularis propria, distal margin with a moderate cone shape, circumferential margin irregular
Incomplete	Small piece of mesorectal tissue with an irregular surface	Defect depth > 5 mm, reaching the muscularis propria, circumferential margin irregular

Table 2 General information of the patient

Surgical approach	Traditional pelvic floor dissection (n = 109)	Eight-zone anatomical dissection (n = 109)	P value
Number of patients	109	109	-
Sex distribution (male/female)	73/36	74/35	0.885
Age	60.95 ± 10.88	63.06 ± 9.63	0.281
Positive lymph node ratio	70	61	0.213
Negative	39	48
Stage I	32	27	0.677
Stage II	37	36
Stage III	40	46

Table 3 Surgical specimen integrity

Integrity level	Traditional pelvic floor dissection (n = 109)	Eight-zone anatomical dissection (n = 109)	P value
Complete	85	96	0.047a
More complete	24	13
Incomplete	0	0

^aP < 0.05, denote statistical significance.

Table 4 The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ CR29 scale score of the eight-zone free group and the traditional free strategy group

Surgical method	Traditional pelvic floor dissection (n = 80)	Eight-zone anatomical dissection (n = 83)	P value
Urinary problem	6.8 ± 3.3	5.3 ± 2.5	0.045a
Abdominal or pelvic pain	2.9 ± 1.5	3.0 ± 1.3
Defecation problem	4.5 ± 1.3	4.4 ± 1.1
Body image	9.8 ± 3.9	9.6 ± 4.5
Anxiety	6.3 ± 2.2	6.2 ± 1.9
Flatulence	2.8 ± 1.3	2.9 ± 1.0
Hair loss	1.3 ± 0.6	1.4 ± 0.4
Taste	1.5 ± 0.6	1.6 ± 0.4
Dry mouth	1.6 ± 0.6	1.7 ± 0.3
Sore skin	2.3 ± 0.7	2.4 ± 0.9
Embarrassment	2.8 ± 1.0	2.7 ± 0.8
Stoma care problems	34	33
Sexual interest (men)	2.2 ± 0.6	2.5 ± 0.5	0.047a
Impotence	1.8 ± 0.4	1.7 ± 0.3
Sexual interest (women)	2.6 ± 1.0	2.5 ± 0.8
Dyspareunia	1.5 ± 0.6	1.6 ± 0.5

^aP < 0.05, denote statistical significance.