title: [Surgical treatment of extraperitoneal rectal cancer].
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of open surgery with sphincter preservation and nerve-sparing total mesorectal excision and a fast-track protocol, without a protective stoma in a consecutive series of patients with extraperitoneal rectal cancer. From 1998 to 2007, 89 patients with extraperitoneal rectal cancer were treated according to a prospective protocol. Eight-six patients were submitted to anterior resection with a low or ultra-low anastomosis and nerve-sparing total mesorectal excision. Fifty-four patients received neoadjuvant therapy. Twenty-eight patients were treated according to a fast-track postoperative protocol. Primary protective colostomies were performed in 6 cases (6.9%), while a secondary colostomy was necessary in 3 patients (3.4%). There was just one postoperative death (1.1%) and major morbidity occurred in 12.3%. Seven patients developed anastomotic dehiscence; 3 were successfully treated with a secondary colostomy and 4 were treated conservatively. 68.4% of the patients treated with the fast-track protocol could be discharged on postoperative day 4. 73% of patients were still surviving at a 5-year follow-up (48 patients). The incidence of local recurrences was 3.1%. Anterior resection in the form of open nerve-sparing total mesorectal excision with selective use of neoadjuvant therapy can be successfully performed without a protective stoma in more than 80% of patients. The fast-track protocol seems to increase the quality of the patient's postoperative condition and reduce the hospital stay.
authors: Dipartimento P. Stefanini, I Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia Università La Sapienza Roma, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Pappalardo
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Spoletini
authors: Delia
authors: D
authors: Proposito
authors: Anna Maria
authors: AM
authors: Conte
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Giorgiano
authors: Aldo
authors: A
authors: Nunziale
authors: Fabrizio Maria
authors: FM
authors: Frattaroli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010537:Peritoneum; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*