Comparative efficacy analysis of laparoscopic-assisted transanal total mesorectal excision vs laparoscopic transanal mesorectal excision for low-lying rectal cancer

Table 1 Comparison of general data, n (%)

Groups	LapTME group (n = 44)	TaTME group (n = 50)	χ2/t	P value
Age (year)	61.61 ± 9.26	62.98 ± 9.37	0.711	0.479
Body mass index (kg/m2)	23.28 ± 2.68	22.95 ± 2.77	0.585	0.560
Tumor diameter (cm)	3.54 ± 0.75	3.48 ± 0.78	0.379	0.706
Tumor distance from the anal margin (cm)	4.82 ± 1.81	4.93 ± 1.81	0.294	0.769
Sex			0.057	0.811
Male	28 (63.64)	33 (66.00)
Female	16 (36.36)	17 (34.00)
American Society of Anesthesiologists grading			3.197	0.074
I	21 (47.73)	32 (64.00)
I	23 (52.27)	18 (36.00)
Tumor–nodes–metastasis staging			0.437	0.509
I	19 (43.18)	25 (50.00)
II	25 (56.82)	25 (50.00)
Pathological type			0.684	0.408
Adenocarcinoma	34 (77.27)	42 (84.00)
Others	10 (22.73)	8 (16.00)

LapTME: Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision; TaTME: Transanal total mesorectal excision.

Table 2 Comparison of surgery-related index

Groups	LapTME group (n = 44)	TaTME group (n = 50)	t value	P value
Operation time (minute)	174.95 ± 17.12	196.40 ± 21.52	5.298	< 0.001
Intraoperative blood loss (mL)	64.59 ± 13.01	54.50 ± 9.71	4.292	< 0.001
Anal exhaust time (hour)	42.89 ± 9.49	36.48 ± 11.53	2.919	0.004
First postoperative ambulation (hour)	41.34 ± 9.76	35.64 ± 9.14	2.923	0.004
Intestinal recovery time (hour)	59.84 ± 9.62	53.20 ± 7.93	23.01	< 0.001
Hospitalization time (days)	12.48 ± 3.30	9.94 ± 2.39	4.309	< 0.001

LapTME: Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision; TaTME: Transanal total mesorectal excision.

Table 3 Comparison of surgical specimens

Groups	LapTME group (n = 44)	TaTME group (n = 50)	t value	P value
Distal incisal margin length (cm)	2.90 ± 0.78	3.40 ± 0.57	3.577	< 0.001
Specimen length (mm)	10.45 ± 2.37	12.12 ± 2.27	3.486	< 0.001
Number of lymph nodes cleared (n)	11.18 ± 3.22	11.72 ± 3.26	0.806	0.422

LapTME: Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision; TaTME: Transanal total mesorectal excision.

Table 4 Comparison of complications, n (%)

Groups	LapTME group (n = 44)	TaTME group (n = 50)	χ2	P value
Anastomotic bleeding	3 (6.82)	2 (4.00)
Anastomotic fistula	1 (2.27)	1 (2.00)
Ileus	3 (6.82)	2 (4.00)
Incision infection	1 (2.27)	0 (0.00)
Total occurrence	8 (18.18)	5 (10.00)	1.315	0.252

LapTME: Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision; TaTME: Transanal total mesorectal excision.

Table 5 Comparison of Visual Analogue Scale scores at different time points after surgery

Groups	LapTME group (n = 44)	TaTME group (n = 50)	t value	P value
12 hours after surgery	3.91 ± 1.31	3.20 ± 1.28	2.654	0.009
24 hours after surgery	3.98 ± 1.30	3.18 ± 1.02	3.338	0.001
36 hours after surgery	3.05 ± 1.19	2.44 ± 1.25	2.414	0.012

LapTME: Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision; TaTME: Transanal total mesorectal excision.