title: Restorative proctectomy with colon pouch-anal anastomosis by laparoscopic transanal pull-through: an available option for low rectal cancer?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are sporadic reports, with different verdicts, of restorative proctectomy by laparoscopic transanal pull-through (LTPT) without the use of a minilaparotomy for a part of the procedure. This study aimed to explore the applicability and advantages of LTPT with colon pouch-anal anastomosis for low rectal cancer, and to evaluate the results.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2002 to July 2003, 10 of 12 patients (6 men and 4 women) undergoing a laparoscopic procedure for low rectal cancer (<6 cm from the anal verge) underwent LTPT. The mean age of these patients was 58 years. The results have been compared with those for 12 similar non-pull-through procedures performed during the same period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no operative mortality. An anastomotic leakage and a hemorrhagic gastropathy occurred in the LTPT group. During a mean follow-up period of 18 months (range, 12-26 months), there was no local relapse. Four patients manifested moderate incontinence. No significant differences in functional outcome were observed between the LTPT and control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors' experience supports use of the LTPT procedure with colonic pouch-anal anastomosis for selected lower rectal cancers with indications for a laparoscopic approach as an appropriate and reproducible surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Unit, C. Righetti, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza Umberto, 32-70121, Bari, Italy. fernando.prete@chirurgiaquinta.uniba.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prete
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Prete
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nitti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sammarco
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Preziosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D039021:Colonic Pouches; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016737:Proctocolectomy, Restorative / Q000009:adverse effects; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome